Evan Lee —POV
I step out of the car, the cold biting into my skin, but it's not the snow that makes me feel empty.
I'm exhausted.
And worse—I'm craving him.
The absence of black orchid clings to me like withdrawal. Without Rion's scent, without his presence, everything feels… off. Wrong. As if my body itself knows something essential is missing.
My steps slow against the white snow. I press a hand gently to my stomach, a quiet, instinctive motion. Rion is right—whenever I'm close to him, I feel steadier. Safe. Calm, from the inside out.
Did he come home already?
Or is he still at the office?
He didn't call. Didn't message.
I tell myself he's just busy.
I reach the door, press my finger to the lock.
Click.
The door unlocks.
I step inside—
—and suddenly, arms wrap around me.
Firm. Warm. Unyielding.
I'm pulled forward, my face pressing into a strong, familiar chest. My breath catches. Then—
Black orchid.
