“I truly cherish you, Vlad,” she whispered.
His crimson eyes flickered like roses swaying in a spring breeze. His chest burned as if filled with molten stones, the sensation sweet yet chaotic. He couldn’t name the wild emotion surging through him. His heart pounded so fiercely that it hurt, forcing him to close his eyes in an attempt to suppress the overwhelming passion inside him.
Every fiber of his being yearned for her. He wanted to touch her, hold her, and consume every part of her—even the parts of herself she was yet unaware of. Resting his forehead against hers, he let their breaths mingle. Her sweet breath teased his lips, and his eyebrows twitched in response.
“I can’t trust myself to stay in control right now,” he admitted, his voice taut with restraint.
