"Pfft—"
Small. Soft.
But real.
She bit her lip, trying to suppress the ridiculous amusement bubbling in her chest, but it was impossible.
"You…" she murmured, her voice light, almost teasing. "You get comfortable way too easily."
Even now, even like this, he was just… him.
Infuriating.
Impossible.
And yet—
Her other hand moved.
Without thinking, she reached forward, her fingertips brushing against his lips.
Soft.
A different kind of softness.
Aeliana stilled.
The realization hit a second too late—What am I doing?—but she didn't pull away. Not yet.
She just watched.
Watched the way his lips barely parted, the slow rise and fall of his chest, the way his breath tickled against her fingertips.
And for the first time since meeting him—
She didn't know what she wanted to do next.
Aeliana swallowed, her breath catching in her throat.
Her fingers were still resting against his lips, the warmth of his breath barely grazing her skin.
Her heart pounded.
What am I doing?
