Elena's POV

Damien stared down at me.

His gaze was dark and deep, like a beast holding itself at the edge of a pounce, all instinct and restraint coiled together. There was no trace of his usual cold composure—only something heavier, more dangerous, pressing down on the space between us.

My breath stalled in my chest.

Fresh from a hot bath, my skin still carried warmth, a faint blush spreading along my neck and collarbone. I could feel it myself—heat lingering beneath my skin, my ...