Claire's POV
My whole body trembled as Evander left to open the door. My heart raced, not from fear but from the lingering heat of his kiss. His firm yet desperate touch awakened feelings I had almost buried deep inside me long ago.
I pressed my fingers to my lips, still tingling from its intensity. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a storm, raw and unrestrained like he had poured every unspoken word, every hidden emotion, into that single moment. It left me shaken and… I wanted more shamelessly.
I wanted to be angry, to tell myself it was wrong. But deep down, I couldn't deny the control he had over me. Evander wasn't just any man. He was complicated, flawed, and so achingly human. Yet he made me feel alive and mattered like I wasn't just someone passing through his life.
As I stood there, trying to gather my thoughts, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed, and my eyes were wide with confusion. "What's happening to me?" I whispered to myself.
