Maya's POV
Even through the thick darkness surrounding us, I could feel his uncertainty hanging in the air like a tangible thing.
"You're certain about this?"
"Absolutely." The word came out rougher than intended as I fought to swallow past the tightness in my throat. "Please, Sebastian."
The sound of him rising from his chair reached my ears, followed by his careful footsteps across the plush carpet. When he settled onto the mattress beside me, he maintained a careful gap between our bodies.
Even without direct contact, the warmth radiating from his skin seemed to envelope me. My racing pulse began to steady, despite another brilliant flash of lightning that briefly bathed the room in stark white light.
The rumbling thunder that chased after it no longer felt quite so menacing.
"Any improvement?" His question carried a tenderness I had never witnessed from him before.
"Much better," I confessed, grateful the shadows concealed the heat creeping up my neck.
