Elena’s POV

I froze the moment Damien lifted his arms. For a second, I genuinely couldn’t breathe.

His sweater came off in one smooth motion, revealing the lean lines of his torso. His waist tightened slightly with the stretch, and the muscles along his stomach shifted.

It wasn’t exaggerated strength, but controlled and unforced, the kind that came from discipline rather than show.

I stared harder than I intended to, and before I could snap out of it, the soft lump of his sweater hit ...