Chapter 5

Veronica

The walk back was a blur of heavy silence and the sound of my own heart hammering against my ribs. By the time we reached the main house, I had scrubbed the flush from my cheeks with cold water from my bottle, but the tingling in my thighs wouldn't fade.

"Change," Alexander commanded quietly as we reached the mudroom. His eyes didn't leave mine. "Something... accessible."

My breath hitched, but I didn't argue. I ran upstairs and threw on a loose, floral sundress—no leggings, no distractions. Just silk against skin.

When I walked into the dining room, the scene…