HELENA POV
I had probably lost my mind.
That was the only explanation that made sense as I stood there, barefoot on cold wood floors, heart hammering against my ribs, staring at Silas like he was the only solid thing left in a world that had suddenly tipped off its axis.
Every restraint I’d spent years building.
Every fear.
Every carefully constructed *what if* and *not yet* and *this is a bad idea*.
Gone.
They didn’t fade gently or dissolve with logic. They just… vanished. Burned off the second I saw the way he was looking at me—heat unmistakable in his eyes, desire unapologetic, that dangerous, crooked smile playing at his mouth like he already knew he’d won something.
And maybe he had.
It didn’t help that he looked like he’d walked straight out of some absurd firefighter calend
