Merlina's fingers slipped free from Craig's with a deliberate twist, the warmth of his palm lingering like an accusation on her skin.
Downstairs, Adriana Vale waited in the lobby, gorgeous and inevitable, the woman who got to stand beside him in daylight, not in the quiet corners where Merlina had learned to exist. A reminder of every boundary she had promised herself she wouldn't cross again.
The air in the office felt suddenly thin, the city beneath them whispering for Merlina to leave before she forgot how.
Craig turned to Nora, his voice low but steady. "Give me a moment."
"Yes, sir." Nora's heels clicked backward, once, twice, then the door shut with a soft finality that echoed in Merlina's ribs.
She was already moving, reaching for her bag where it had slipped to the floor, in the heat of their moment. The strap brushed her bare arm as she lifted it, a fleeting reminder of his hands.
The door was only three strides away, but it felt further than ever.
"Merlina."
