ELYRA
I honestly hadn’t expected things to go that far.
One moment we were almost arguing, standing too close in the quiet living room, and the next his hand was already around my waist, pulling me toward him like he had every right to do so.
For a second I just froze.
My heart skipped a beat. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
The contract flashed in my mind like a warning sign. Our marriage wasn’t real. It was just an arrangement. A deal. A cold agreement with clear boundaries.
And yet, I could feel his arm tighten around me.
I inhaled sharply when his fingers brushed against the small of my back. His touch wasn’t rough or forceful like during our arguments. It was slow, careful and almost affectionate.
“That’s enough,” I murmured weakly, trying to push against his chest. “You shoul
