Arec's POV:
I stayed in that moment a heartbeat longer, caught between the thrill of what I wanted to do and the uncertainty of how she might react. My pulse thundered in my ears as I watched her, the quiet intensity in her gaze making it impossible to look away. She didn't pull her hand back, didn't shift her gaze, and the warmth of her touch seeped into me, pushing me closer to the edge of my own hesitation.
I memorized every detail of her expression, every hint of emotion in her eyes. This, whatever this was between us, felt like a new kind of challenge, one I wasn't sure I knew how to handle.
But if tonight had taught me anything, it was that I wanted to try. I'm not going to avoid it.
Then, with a small, almost shy smile, she finally looked down, letting out a breathy laugh that seemed to cut through the tension. "Well, I didn't know you had that side to you, Mr. Weston."
