The walk to the car felt endless, each step resonating with Marcus's last command—show Samantha what you have learned about patience. The parking lot stretched empty except for their vehicle, leaving them no distractions from the growing tension that had been simmering since they left the coffee shop.
Kai moved with deliberate precision, opening Samantha's door first, a gesture ingrained by Marcus's exacting lessons on protocol. Yet the simple act of helping her into the car carried more weight than it should have. His fingers brushed her arm as she slid into the passenger seat, and the brief contact sent an unspoken charge between them, halting both for a fraction of a second.
