180
~Lisa's POV
Damon rose first, offering his hand to me like a knight from the old tales. I slipped my fingers into his, and he pulled me easily to my feet. My legs tingled from sitting so long, but there was a new kind of lightness in my chest that made me want to walk, to stretch my limbs and breathe deeply.
"Shall we?" he asked, his tone quieter now, almost tender, as though he didn't want to shatter the fragile peace that had grown between us.
"Yes," I said, unable to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. "Let's walk."
We left the blanket behind for the moment, letting it rest there among the wildflowers. Damon walked at my side, tall and steady, his presence like a shield but also strangely gentle now, as though he'd shed the weight of command for a short while. My hand brushed against his as we walked, and though I didn't dare take it fully, the closeness sent tiny sparks racing through me.
