Chapter 21

Sophia stood in Alexander's penthouse, her heart pounding against her ribs. The air between them felt charged, thick with unsaid words and unspoken desires. His hands still cupped her face, his touch grounding her, yet igniting something deep within her.

"You don't have to be afraid," Alexander murmured, his voice low and steady.

She swallowed hard, her fingers tightening against his shirt. "But I am. I'm afraid of making the wrong choice, of hurting Leo, of—"

"Of wanting me?" he finished for her, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her breath hitched. The raw honesty in his eyes left her exposed, vulnerable. She had spent so long guarding herself, keeping her emotions locked away, but Alexander had a way of dismantling every wall she put up.

Slowly, he traced his thumb along her cheek, his touch featherlight. "Tell me to stop, Sophia. And I will."

She didn't. Instead, she leaned in, her body making the choice before her mind could catch up. Her lips brushed against his—a hesitant, fleeting touch that sent a shiver down her spine. Alexander inhaled sharply, his grip on her tightening for a brief moment before he pulled her fully against him, deepening the kiss.

A soft gasp escaped her as his arms wrapped around her, one hand sliding into her hair, the other anchoring her against his chest. The warmth of his body, the scent of him—familiar yet intoxicating—made her head spin. She melted into him, letting go of every doubt, every fear, if only for this moment.

Alexander kissed her slowly, thoroughly, as if memorizing every curve of her lips, every shaky breath she took. When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers, his own breathing uneven.

"Sophia…" His voice was rough with restraint. "Are you sure?"

She met his gaze, her fingers tracing the hard lines of his jaw. "I don't know what happens next. But right now, I just need you."

That was all it took.

With a low groan, Alexander lifted her into his arms, carrying her effortlessly through the dimly lit penthouse. Her arms wound around his neck as he walked, her heart hammering in anticipation. He set her down on the edge of his bed, kneeling before her, his hands trailing up her arms as if giving her one last chance to change her mind.

She didn't.

Sophia reached for him, pulling him into another kiss, this one more urgent, more desperate. His hands moved over her, exploring, learning, as they lost themselves in each other.

For the first time in a long time, Sophia allowed herself to forget the weight of the world. She allowed herself to feel.

And in Alexander's arms, she felt safe.

Sophia stood in Alexander's penthouse, her heart pounding against her ribs. The air between them felt charged, thick with unsaid words and unspoken desires. His hands still cupped her face, his touch grounding her, yet igniting something deep within her.

"You don't have to be afraid," Alexander murmured, his voice low and steady.

She swallowed hard, her fingers tightening against his shirt. "But I am. I'm afraid of making the wrong choice, of hurting Leo, of—"

"Of wanting me?" he finished for her, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her breath hitched. The raw honesty in his eyes left her exposed, vulnerable. She had spent so long guarding herself, keeping her emotions locked away, but Alexander had a way of dismantling every wall she put up.

Slowly, he traced his thumb along her cheek, his touch featherlight. "Tell me to stop, Sophia. And I will."

She didn't. Instead, she leaned in, her body making the choice before her mind could catch up. Her lips brushed against his—a hesitant, fleeting touch that sent a shiver down her spine. Alexander inhaled sharply, his grip on her tightening for a brief moment before he pulled her fully against him, deepening the kiss.

A soft gasp escaped her as his arms wrapped around her, one hand sliding into her hair, the other anchoring her against his chest. The warmth of his body, the scent of him—familiar yet intoxicating—made her head spin. She melted into him, letting go of every doubt, every fear, if only for this moment.

Alexander kissed her slowly, thoroughly, as if memorizing every curve of her lips, every shaky breath she took. When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers, his own breathing uneven.

"Sophia…" His voice was rough with restraint. "Are you sure?"

She met his gaze, her fingers tracing the hard lines of his jaw. "I don't know what happens next. But right now, I just need you."

That was all it took.

With a low groan, Alexander lifted her into his arms, carrying her effortlessly through the dimly lit penthouse. Her arms wound around his neck as he walked, her heart hammering in anticipation. He set her down on the edge of his bed, kneeling before her, his hands trailing up her arms as if giving her one last chance to change her mind.

She didn't.

Sophia reached for him, pulling him into another kiss, this one more urgent, more desperate. His hands moved over her, exploring, learning, as they lost themselves in each other.

For the first time in a long time, Sophia allowed herself to forget the weight of the world. She allowed herself to feel.

And in Alexander's arms, she felt safe.