Thomas' hand was warm, strong, and the way he held hers—gentle, but firm—made her feel both safe and completely vulnerable at the same time.
Jade's lips parted slightly as her breath caught. "Yes," she murmured, barely audible.
The word came out soft, sultry—more moan than answer—and she instantly flushed at the sound of it.
She tried to pull her hand back, suddenly overwhelmed by the intensity between them, but Thomas didn't let go.
His thumb brushed lightly against her skin, and she stilled. Not because he was restraining her—he wasn't—but because she didn't want him to stop.
Their eyes locked.
It wasn't just a look—it was a silent conversation, something primal and unspoken passing between them. A spark. A pull. Something magnetic.
The seconds stretched. Her breathing quickened. The air around them thickened with something unspoken yet unmistakable.
"I find honesty refreshing," Thomas said, his voice quiet, his gaze never wavering. "Don't you?"
