Half an hour later, they arrived at Julian's apartment. Daphne helped him out, his weight a dead weight against her. She carefully maneuvered him into his apartment. As she took him into his bedroom and tried to put him on the bed, a misstep caused them to stumble. Daphne found herself sprawled on top of him. Her breathing hitched, and she froze, her gaze locking with his.
Everything seemed to come to a standstill at that moment. Maybe it was the effect of alcohol, or perhaps the unexpected intimacy of their tangled limbs, a spark ignited within Julian. He felt a pull towards Daphne, a warmth that he couldn't ignore.
Before he could fully comprehend the urge, his arms reached out, encasing her in a sudden embrace. Daphne's body tensed at his sudden, unexpected action. She didn't pull away. Instead, she found herself frozen in his grasp, his eyes holding hers captive.
"You're beautiful," he murmured as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
