Claire's POV
I was already losing my mind after telling Evander that I needed time. Now, trapped in this cramped space with him, our breaths mingling, I could feel the tension in the air, thick enough to cut through. My pulse raced as the closeness between us overwhelmed my senses, and I couldn't think straight.
But what caught me completely off guard was the way he leaned in and, in that low, husky voice and asked if he could kiss me.
My body froze on the spot. I couldn't process what to say or how to react. My heart hammered wildly in my chest, torn between screaming yes and running away. Before I could muster any response, his hand slipped against the wall, and his lips—cold, firm, and utterly familiar—fell onto mine.
