Harper's POV
I let my gaze lock with his, watching the way his chest rises and falls, the way his eyes burn with an intensity that takes my breath away. The fire in them isn’t just anger, it’s something far more complicated, far more dangerous.
I swallow, my pulse quickening as I lean back slightly, letting my legs swing off the edge of the counter. The air between us feels charged now, like a wire just before it snaps. I can feel the shift in him, the way he holds himself back, but it’s not enough to stop me.
“I’m trying,” I whisper, my voice breathy, the words almost a challenge. My lips curve into a slow, teasing smile. “But it hurts, Theo. You’re not being gentle.”
For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. His hands move with deliberate care, continuing to stitch, but his jaw tightens
