Braelyn's POV
"I can't let go," Lucien said again, and this time there was no teasing in his voice, no wicked amusement curling at the edges. The words landed heavily between us. My breath caught in my chest as I struggled to breathe..."Because somewhere along the way… I got addicted to this game."
The wind shifted across the rooftop, cold enough to raise goosebumps along my arms, yet my skin burned like I was standing too close to a fire.
I told myself to step back, to laugh, to say something dismissive the way I always did with him. Instead, I stayed frozen, fingers tightening against the tablecloth as a strange, dangerous anticipation twisted low in my stomach.
His jaw flexed before he spoke again, slower now, like every word mattered.
