Alina felt his touch race through her like sparks blooming beneath her skin, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe. His nearness, his warmth, the way his eyes held her as if she were something precious… it made her heartbeat lose all rhythm. She swallowed softly, trying to calm the flutter rising inside her.
"I should go and sleep with the babies…" she whispered, though her voice trembled, betraying how much she didn't want to pull away. She dipped her head slightly, her breath brushing his collarbone as she tried to gather herself.
"Don't go," he murmured, almost pleading, his voice deep with longing. "Sleep with me."
She shook her head gently, her lips curving despite the warmth spreading across her cheeks. "I shouldn't. I promised them I will sleep with them."
