Claudia gulped hard when she heard the words Devon had just murmured, the low rumble of his voice so close it vibrated through her chest like a deep bass note.
She could feel his breath warm and steady against her lips, carrying that faint woodsy scent of his cologne mixed with the lingering heat of exertion from the room—sweat and something more primal that made her pulse quicken despite herself.
It caused her whole body to shiver involuntary, a ripple running from her neck down her spine slow, making the fine hairs on her arms stand up like static.
Her heart pounded sudden and loud in her ears, thumping like a drum, and her eyes—which had been locked defiant on his, challenging—dropped immediately, fluttering down to stare at his chest instead, the white coat still crisp but with a faint wrinkle from the day's mess.
A flush crept up her neck slow like warm water rising, warming her cheeks despite her best effort to stay composed and cool, her mind racing to catch up.
