Anna's POV:

The world blurs. His face fills my vision—those green eyes reflecting my own image back at me. For one perfect moment, I'm weightless. Happy.

'This is what it feels like. To be wanted. To be—'

I don't finish the thought. Can't name what I see in his expression.

But it looks almost like love.

All the moral struggles, all the shame from moments ago—it evaporates. Replaced by this feeling, this lightness.

"Put me down." I'm breathless. ...