Lucian stepped inside, carefully lowering Erin onto her feet before guiding her to sit at the edge of the bed. He knelt on one knee before her on the floor.
Before Erin could fully comprehend what he was doing, Lucian reached for her feet. With a firm yet gentle touch, he began to remove the winter boots she wore over her thick socks. Her breath hitched, a mix of surprise and embarrassment washing over her.
She wanted to protest, to tell him she could manage on her own, but the words caught in her throat. Something about the quiet care in his actions rendered her silent.
She observed his lowered face, making her wonder about all his actions. She understood he had been maintaining boundaries with her because, a few times when he tried to be close to her, she had warned him not to touch her and to keep his distance. But, at that time, she didn't know what was in his mind, and she was just angry at him.