Lucien pulled back from the kiss, his lips still hovering over hers, his breath warm and unsteady. Caroline's body remained cradling him, her heart pounding so violently she thought it might shatter through her ribs.
His eyes searched hers, piercing blue flickering with restraint that seemed almost foreign on a man like him. "Are you ready now?" he asked at last, his voice low and rough, though softened by something that unnerved her—concern. "If you're not, we can wait."
Caroline swallowed hard, her throat tight, her pulse roaring in her ears. For all her dramatic declarations, for all her boldness, this was different. This wasn't about words or theatrics. This was about choosing. About stepping into his shadows with her eyes wide open.
"I am," she whispered, surprising herself with how steady it sounded.
