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“What does that mean ?” I ask hoarsely, struggling not to let my eyes flicker to his lips so dangerously close to mine.

His smirk widens as his fingers tangle deeper in my hair, massaging the back of my head. A soft, involuntary moan escapes me, my eyes fluttering shut.

He stills.

Then, he takes a deep breath, and I’m forced to reopen my eyes, meeting his intense gaze once more.

“It means sunshine—someone who shines like the sun in our lives,” he explains. “The first time I saw you in that receptionhall, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were like a radiant sun—impossible to ignore, impossible not to be drawn to.”

His words send fresh tears welling in my eyes.

“Shh, you’ve cried enough for tonight—enough for a lifetime,” he soothes, pressing his nose against my hair before kissing my temple.

At his tender gesture, more tears slip down my cheeks, and I pout, which only makes him chuckle—a sound that vibrates through me, warming something deep inside my chest.

“Come on, let’s get up before you catch a cold,” Nikolaï says as he straightens up, helping me to my bare feet. That’s when I notice that he’s barefoot too. I don’t know why, but it feels oddly intimate.

Keeping one arm around my waist, he reaches out with his other hand to grab the high-backed chair against the wall and places it in front of us, facing the mirror.

“Climb up,” he says, patting the dark leather of the seat.

I frown, glancing between the chair and him. “Why ?”

“So I can dry your hair,” he replies, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“I can dry my own hair,” I retort, lifting my chin defiantly, narrowing my eyes at him.

One of his eyebrows arches. “I know you can, but let me do it,” he says, his gaze filled with quiet determination. And honestly, I’m too exhausted to fight this battle.

I sigh in surrender and step closer to the chair, turning to hoist myself up, but with only one good hand, it’s not exactly easy. Before I can struggle, the arm still wrapped around my waist lifts me effortlessly, and suddenly, I’m seated, my head just below his chin.

Our eyes meet in the mirror as he slowly removes his hand from my body, his fingers trailing over my stomach, his thumb grazing just beneath my left breast. A shiver runs down my spine.

He steps back and moves around me, heading toward the counter. Bending down, he opens one of the drawers, retrieving a towel.

I can’t help myself—I glance lower.

His sweatpants sit low on his hips, and his backside is… well, distracting.

I let out a deep sigh and quickly shift my gaze back up, only to freeze when I catch his reflection in the mirror—his eyes locked onto mine, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

I don’t move. I don’t even breathe as he returns to stand behind me, gathering my damp hair at my back, his fingers brushing against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

He starts drying my hair with slow, careful movements, his touch gentle and deliberate.

I close my eyes, allowing myself to relax, the unexpected sense of trust I feel toward this man lowering my guard in a way I never imagined possible.

Listening to his steady breathing, feeling his warmth behind me, I don’t even realize when sleep finally claims me.

Chapter fourteen

Nikolai

Selina immediately turns toward her son, her hand resting on his stomach after I lay her down on the bed. I gently pull the covers over them and straighten up.

I shove my fists into my pockets, my jaw clenched, as the image of how I found her refuses to leave my mind. I had only intended to check if the painkillers were working, but when no one answered my knock, I entered the room. She wasn’t in bed beside Rafael, and I froze at the sound of a soft whimper coming from the bathroom. When I reached her, my world stopped.

She was on her knees, gripping the counter with all her strength, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. When I pulled her into my arms, she was freezing, her body trembling uncontrollably, her face twisted in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks—tears that unsettled something deep inside me.