The tension between them was unbearable, a silent current that crackled in the space between their bodies. Claire could hardly focus on anything except the steady, deliberate way Vladimir looked at her—as if she was the only thing in the world that mattered. Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.
Her skin was warm beneath his touch, a contrast to the cool air in the dimly lit room. Every inch of her felt exposed, not just physically, but emotionally. She had spent so long guarding herself, pushing down the emotions she didn’t fully understand, but now… she was laid bare before him in more ways than one.
Vladimir’s fingers brushed along the curve of her waist, a featherlight touch that sent shivers racing down her spine. His movements were slow,
