Caroline’s mind swirled with the implications of Damon’s words as he held her close, his scent grounding her amidst the storm inside her. The night felt heavy, thick with tension and unspoken desires. His hands, steady and warm against her skin, sent pulses of heat through her body, making it harder to think, to rationalize. She couldn’t deny the undeniable pull between them, couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t drawn to him like a moth to a flame. But she was terrified of what that meant—terrified of losing herself in this bond, in him.
She took a shaky breath, pulling back just slightly so that she could look at him, his face only inches away from hers, his dark eyes filled with both longing and something softer, more vulnerable. He hadn’t let go, hadn’t made her feel like she was just a po
