'You were the one I wanted to share this with first.'
Her voice echoed in the quiet kitchen, wrapping around him like a velvet ribbon, soft yet unshakable. The weight of her words struck him deep, sending a sharp jolt through his chest.
Damn it. This woman…
Xi Yuan took a slow breath, willing his pulse to steady before he forced himself to break eye contact, shifting his gaze to the side as he cleared his throat.
"Très touché, mon Amour," he murmured at last, the huskiness in his voice betraying more than he intended. 'Very touched, my Love' in French.
Pushing himself up onto the counter beside her, he let the moment settle before adding, "For what it's worth, you are the only person I ever feel an undeniable, almost primal need to share my victories and losses with, too.
"Before you, the thought of opening up to anyone else was… nauseating. Revolting, even."
