Elaria’s POV
I stood perfectly still, barely breathing, as his fingers found the zipper of my dress. The faint hiss of fabric separating filled the silence. Each slow inch unfastened made my skin tighten beneath the delicate lace.
I felt the heat of his gaze more than I saw it, trailing down my spine, lingering at the small of my back. Still, I didn’t move. I couldn’t.
“Lift your arms,” he said, his voice low, calm, and unbothered.
I obeyed silently, raising them just high enough for the dress to slip from my shoulders. It cascaded down my body in a whisper, puddling at my feet. I shivered from the vulnerability.
He crouched and picked it up from around my ankles, folding it with precise, almost impersonal care before setting it aside.
When he stood, his eyes met mine for only a seco
