Daelan's POV.
I froze, completely caught off guard. My body stiffened, and my mind went blank for the briefest moment, as the thrill then slowly collided in a rush. I felt my heart skipped, the moment totally unexpected as everything else slowly faded away, just us.
Finally, she pulled back slightly, her eyes se a rc hi n g mine, and I could feel the raw intensity of the moment. It suddenly felt like there was just this shared recognition of the tension that had been building between us for so long. Her hands rested lightly on my shoulders as I tried to steady my breath, but the warmth of her presence kept making it impossible to remain calm.
I caught a flash of longing there that made my heart flutter. "It’s not easy for me too, being away from you," she finally said, her voice gentl
