Loving you
Mallory's breath caught in her throat. She had spent years building walls, protecting herself from the very attention she never received. Now, faced with Hadeon's genuine desire, those walls began to crack. His fingers ghosted along her wrist, not gripping, but requesting.
"I..." she started, her voice trailing off as his thumb traced circles on her palm. The touch was surprisingly gentle from a man she had first known to be pushy.
"Let me show you how I truly feel about you. How much I want you," Hadeon murmured, his words carrying a raw honesty that made Mallory's heart race.
She found herself nodding, and the smile that graced his features was unlike any she'd seen before. Not calculated, not seductive, but real. He cupped her face with both hands, studying her as if memorising every detail.
"Are you feeling cold?" he asked, his voice low and tender.