Pausing mid-step on the cool cobblestones, I swiveled to face Adrian. The man halted as well, our paths frozen in an impromptu dance. A mere five paces separated us as the wind whipped between our still figures. With deliberate slowness, I began moving toward him, lifting the hood of my voluminous cloak to meet his gaze head-on.
Stiffening in surprise, a flicker of curiosity sparked within his emerald eyes. Eventually, the gap closed until not even a clenched fist would be able to fit in the space between our bodies. Resolutely, I affixed my gaze on his face, taking a moment to study his intricate features. Adrian remained unmoving, his hands buried away in his pockets in a stark juxtaposition to the brazenness he’d displayed the day that we met, daring to graze my waist without seeking permission.
His gaze, heavy and intense, met mine as he whispered, “Eleanora, when you look at me like that, it stirs something peculiar within me.”
