Thorne's POV
I leaned against the kitchen counter, the cool marble grounding me as I tried to shake the image of Elara’s naked body from my mind. Her skin, soft and glistening from the bath, had unraveled me, and those three cursed words “Do you like them?” still echoed, taunting my restraint. At forty-seven, I’d faced dark mages and rogue spirits, but Elara’s boldness was a spell I couldn’t counter. The mansion’s crystal-lit walls pulsed faintly, mocking my racing pulse as Harlan rummaged through glowing vials from the market.
“What are you doing here?” Harlan asked, glancing up from the groceries, his gray eyes tired but sharp. He didn’t suspect yet but the weight of my betrayal hung heavy.
I cleared my throat, forcing nonchalance. “I needed to talk about that Dodge artifact I’m pick
