Page 9 of Power

My breath caught in my chest as a surge of excitement raced down my spine.

The innocence I had expected was missing from her eyes.

Instead, I found a profound wisdom that spoke of experience and understanding beyond her years. Before me was a disciplined woman who had learned to measure her reactions, to keep her thoughts and intentions carefully guarded.

Her smile was polite, calm, reflecting the strength and confidence of a woman who knew her worth. I encountered not a single trace of nervousness. Her unparalleled beauty was overwhelming, leaving me breathless.

To my surprise, I felt a stirring in my pants, my cock twitching. I had never expected such a strong physical reaction at first glance.

I prided myself on being the calm, composed one, the person unshaken by social encounters.

Now, here I was, feeling like an awkward adolescent, my knees weak and movements clumsy, all because of a single, curious arch of her brow.

I advanced through the crowd of guards, their formation slowly creating a narrow passage just for me. At that moment, they looked less like soldiers and more like vigilant keepers of a rare treasure: the Vitalis sisters. They stood ready to protect with every fiber of their being.

My throat tightened as I neared her, and an enchanting perfume enveloped me, its rich scent imprinting itself on my mind. I could detect hints of lilac mingling with layers of gardenia and a subtle trace of jasmine.

She rose to greet me, and once again, I found myself captivated by her delicate features. Her movements weregraceful and sure, an elegant invitation extended as she reached out her hand to shake mine.

“Hello, Leon.” Her smile broadened, sending a surge of energy through me, as if her radiant face had the power to outshine the sun. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” I met her hand with mine, our clasp sealing the start of this encounter, and then gestured toward the chair opposite her.

Once she settled in, her chair tucked neatly underneath, I sat across the table. I observed her gaze fixate on me, her eyes bright and unwavering. Light surrounded her like water encircling a swan.

Her face radiated softness—full lips and lashes sweeping down—but each curve suggested a quiet determination. The contours of her shoulders revealed sculpted muscles straining against her blouse. A vein on her wrist arched like a taut string. This firmness betrayed years devoted to refining both body and mind.

Underneath her composed exterior, I sensed storms she refused to name.

Images flickered in my thoughts: the men who’d dared to harm her, their faces contorted in fear as she stood before them, calm as a judge handing down a verdict.

I imagined her palm sliding across a pounding chest, the quiet crack of bone under her command. My fists tightened beneath the table, each suppressed breath fueling a rogue ache for justice.

Alongside that cold fury, another ache rose, a longing to stand in her confidence, to earn a share of that unbreakable trustshe bestowed on so few. My pulse hammered against my ribs, which were suddenly too tight.

Could someone forged in fire ever allow another soul to come near?

“Have you been to this hotel before?” Her voice settled me back into the moment.

I brushed my palm along the tabletop’s carved floral pattern. “No. You?”

She tracked a seam in the wood. “First time. I’ve heard the cuisine here rivals the best in the city.”

I offered a small smile. “Then I’m glad we chose it.” The words tasted simple, but behind them lay everything I felt: admiration, protection, a desire to be the one she could finally trust.

She grinned once more, her expression radiant and inviting, and my heart skipped a beat. When the waiter approached our table, I almost sighed with relief, grateful for a distraction to latch onto.

If just the mere act of greeting her and basking in her presence had such an effect on me, how would I endure the next few hours without unraveling?

Once I ordered a bottle of wine, I shifted my focus back to her, quietly hoping my racing heart would calm. It was utterly captivating to see the sunlight flicker through her hair, creating a stunning glow.

At that moment, the breeze caught her silky strands, lifting them from her shoulders and revealing the smooth expanse of her long neck.

I swallowed hard, my breath momentarily caught at thesight. It felt as if I was witnessing something forbidden, and a powerful urge to press my lips against her tender skin surged within me. I quickly averted my gaze, struggling to regain my composure.

“I assume you have a critical eye when it comes to restaurants,” she remarked with a knowing smile.

“And why would you think that?” I inquired, meeting her gaze and maintaining an air of calm, despite the whirlwind of emotions her presence stirred within me.

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