Anne didn't move. Her body remained taut against him, tingling from the feel of his warmth, his scent, his nearness. Every nerve felt heightened, alive.
"I wanted to leave the meeting midway and come straight to you," he murmured, hugging her closer, pressing her body snugly against his.
Her heartbeat thudded against his chest, wild and uneven. She felt the fabric of her robe shift slightly with his embrace and reminded her of what she wore underneath. Heat rushed through her, pooling in her stomach. Her toes curled against the carpet, and her fingers clenched at her sides, the anticipation and nervousness dancing within her like fire on her skin.
Augustine immediately noticed something was off. Anne stood rigid in his embrace, her arms unmoving, her body unnaturally still—so much so that it unsettled him. He gently loosened his hold and moved back just enough to study her face. Her cheeks were bright with color, her expression taut.
