Relief flooded her features. The tension she'd carried immediately loosened.
Her arms tightened around him.
Torak inhaled deeply. Her scent surrounded him, and it felt like home. For the first time in days, he felt genuinely calm.
"I missed you."
Adele swallowed. "I missed you too."
The words landed harder than they should have. Adele rarely admitted things directly, and it spoke Torak's entire world.
Reluctantly she pulled back enough to look at him. Then she completely destroyed his ability to think.
"I'll attend the mate ball next year."
Torak froze.
Adele thinned her lips nervously. "I'll accept you if you choose me."
Silence fell between them. Absolute silence.
Torak stared at her in awe.
Adele stared back, then frowned when he remained dazed like he was frozen in time. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Torak sat heavily on the edge of the bed.
He pulled her into his lap automatically. Adele's breatht caught at his forward move, but she let him.
