Neena huffed, her irritation clear, but she turned and left without another word, the door closing softly behind her.
Now it was just the two of us.
Aiden leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on me as though he were assessing every inch of me. I wanted to disappear under his gaze, but instead, I stood there.
He didn't speak at first, simply watching me. Then he rose slowly, his height and presence swallowing the room whole. My heart skipped a beat as he took a step closer, his eyes dark with something demanding.
"Take the ponytail down," he said, his voice low and deliberate.
I stared at him, confused. "What?"
"The ponytail,” he repeated, his tone sharper. "Take it down."
My hands fumbled with the tie, and my hair tumbled down around my shoulders. His gaze softened ever so sligh
