Derek's restraint was weakening, the carefully constructed walls around his heart beginning to crumble. Alexa's proximity, her touch, the raw honesty in her eyes, were a potent combination that threatened to overwhelm him.
Then, Alexa stepped closer, her movements deliberate and seductive. The scent of bamboo and hibiscus, her intoxicating fragrance, filled Derek's lungs, making it even harder to think, to control the fire that raged within him.
He groaned softly, his voice thick with a mixture of longing and desperation. "That f*****g scent," he murmured, his eyes dark with desire. "It drives me insane. Ever since we first met..."
Alexa gently cupped Derek's face in her hands, her touch soft and warm, her fingers tracing the sharp angles of his jawline under his beard. Her gaze was int
