Should Not

“Even if you know nothing, this much is still possible.”

The man assigned to protect her. His dark, bottomless eyes remained inscrutable—whether they burned with intensity or indifference, she couldn’t tell.

Each time he whispered, the skin brushing against his lips tingled.

“How do you know how I’ll react, showing up like this every night?”

“Ah…!”

“Without fear. Hmm?”

He whispered on, holding Jane firmly in his embrace.

For some reason, it felt like he was teasing her again. A sudden surge of defiance rose within her.

“You keep saying things like that because I always back down… So that’s why you’re doing it again.”

“Then don’t back down. Simple as that.”

“Do you have a problem with sleeping after a drink?”

Caught off guard by his unexpected words, she momentarily forgot to respond.

Without hesitation, he cupped her neck and chin in one hand, his face impassive as he leaned down.

“Stay the night.”

A crossroads from which there would be no turning back.

That night seemed determined to consume them both in its entirety.