Alaric's breath hitched suddenly, his heart thundering in his chest. His gaze instinctively flicked to his right hand, then followed the delicate arm upward until it landed on Lena's eyes.
There was a gentle warmth in her gaze, tinged with a probing curiosity. "Why would you go this far for me?"
Her directness caught Alaric off guard, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. Surprise flickered across his face before he quickly composed himself, lowering his gaze. A corner of his mouth curved into a sly, meaningful smile. "What’s this about?"
He dragged out the last word, his tone playful as he slowly lifted his eyelids.
Anyone could tell his question was teasing.
The hand resting on the back of his remained motionless. Alaric released the mouse, flipping his hand over naturally t
