Sally's POV
Ajax moves first, shifting to his side and propping his head on his hand to study my face. Sweat glistens on his skin, and his breathing is still uneven, but something in his expression has changed. The walls he always keeps up have crumbled away.
Through our bond, I sense the storm of emotions inside him. Hunger mixed with something tender that makes my chest tighten.
"I fought so hard to keep my distance," he says, voice barely above a whisper. His fingers trace along my cheek, trembling slightly. "I convinced myself it would protect you. Instead, it nearly destroyed me."
My palm finds his face, thumb brushing over his cheekbone. "I never wanted the space between us, Ajax. I want you here. All of you. Even when things get complicated."
Something flickers in his gaze, raw and desperate, but before he can respond, Philip shifts beside me. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back against his solid chest until I'm caught between them both.
