Swallowing, Salviana pushed open the door and stepped inside, feeling the weight of the moment settle around her.
Her pulse quickened as her eyes met his. Alaric was seated behind his desk, looking every inch the ruler he was—powerful, composed, his dark hair tousled in a way that made him look effortlessly handsome.
But there was something different tonight, something that made the tension in the room feel charged, electric.
When he saw her, his posture straightened immediately, and his eyes locked onto hers, a look passing between them that made her breath catch. It was as if he saw through her, right into the heart of her.
"Salviana," he greeted, his voice unexpectedly gentle, a quiet hum of warmth in the words. He paused, his gaze lingering as though savoring the sight of her. A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You look… lovely this evening."
A blush crept up her cheeks at the compliment, and she found herself unable to look away. His gaze was intense, yet there was a tenderness there that unsettled her. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice softer than she intended, her pulse quickening as she met his gaze.
He stood from his chair, moving with an ease that was both predatory and graceful. There was an unmistakable power in his every movement.
His presence seemed to fill the room, and before she knew it, he was standing directly in front of her, a mere breath separating them.
"How was your day?" he asked, his voice low, intimate—like they were sharing a secret, as though nothing else existed but the two of them in that moment.
Salviana hesitated for a moment, her throat dry as she searched for the right words. She was suddenly aware of how close he was, how his warmth radiated toward her, how every shift of his body made her heart race just a little faster.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "It was…" She trailed off, her gaze flickering toward the map on his desk before quickly returning to him. "…uneventful." She glanced up, meeting his eyes, hoping her voice sounded steady. "And yours?"
Alaric's expression softened, his eyes searching hers, the intensity in them unmistakable. "More eventful now that you're here." He took a small step forward, closing the distance between them further, his hand brushing ever so lightly against hers as he spoke.
The small gesture sent a shiver down her spine, though she didn't move away.
Her breath caught in her throat at the intimate tone of his words, the weight of them lingering in the air between them.
They stood in silence for a moment, the tension thick, palpable. Then, as if breaking a spell, Alaric finally spoke, his voice a little rougher now, though still laced with that same warmth.
"Maybe I can ask you," he began, his hand now resting lightly on the edge of the desk. "What do you think of the map?"
Salviana glanced at it, the intricate lines and marks revealing so much more than she could fully understand. Her gaze moved over the symbols, the mountains, and valleys, and she nodded slowly.
"It's… fascinating," she murmured, her fingers brushing across a particular section that seemed to have a red circle around it. "Are these the borders you're planning to secure?"
His gaze flickered to the map briefly before returning to her, the usual cool calculation in his eyes now replaced with something more personal.
"Yes," he said, though his tone softened as his gaze drifted over her once more. "But I think we both know there are more pressing matters at hand."
Salviana tilted her head slightly, the subtle shift in his demeanor not lost on her. He was still focused on the work, but the warmth in his eyes seemed to pierce through the seriousness of the moment, inviting her into something far deeper than any tactical discussion.
He moved around the desk to her side, his hand brushing against her arm as he passed. His proximity was enough to make her pulse race, her skin tingling with the quiet intensity of their closeness.
Alaric paused, his back to her, studying the maps before his eyes flickered to the window, as if considering something for a moment. Then, without warning, he turned back to face her, his gaze far more intense than before.
"Tell me," he murmured, his voice now lowering to something softer, more alluring. "What do you think of my plans? Do they bore you?"
Salviana couldn't help but laugh softly, a nervous flutter in her chest at the sudden change in his tone. "Not boring," she replied, the words trembling slightly on her lips. "Just… complicated."
He smiled, that same enigmatic smile that both unnerved and captivated her, and took a step closer, his body nearly pressing against hers. She could feel the heat of him, his presence overwhelming in the quiet space.
"You're right," he said, his voice low, the air between them growing thick with something she could no longer ignore. "But maybe I don't need to talk about battle plans right now." His hand reached up, cupping her cheek gently, his thumb grazing the soft skin of her jaw.
The touch was tender, yet the force behind it was unmistakable.
Salviana's breath hitched, and for a moment, she felt completely lost in his gaze, as though she were drowning in the depth of his intensity.
His touch was gentle yet commanding, making her feel both vulnerable and cherished at the same time. She felt her heart race in her chest, the quiet tension between them now thick with anticipation.
"You're not here to talk about battles or plans, Salviana," he murmured, his voice now hushed, as if the words themselves were a secret between them. You're here because you missed me half as much as I did you and now I want you."
She wanted him too.
His lips were inches from hers now, his breath warm against her skin.