Next day -
The warm, comforting scent of garlic and rosemary filled the spacious kitchen, mingling deliciously with the subtle, sweeter aroma of Lyra’s own essence. She hummed softly under her breath, a light, airy tune, as she stirred the pot simmering on the stove, her hips swaying gently in time with the unspoken rhythm in her head.
The oversized shirt she wore, one of Xander’s, hung loose off one shoulder, exposing a delicate curve of skin, while her bare legs were visible beneath the generous hem. She felt utterly comfortable, utterly at home in this moment, in this space.
She didn’t hear him come in, not a single footfall on the polished floorboards. But she felt him—Xander’s presence always announced itself with a subtle, yet undeniable, shift in the very air, a prickle on her
