Nina gripped the handle of the sliding door, her breath catching in her throat. The red silk of her clutch felt damp against her trembling palm. She could feel her pulse hammering in her wrists, in her temples, everywhere… a frantic drumbeat threatening to drown out rational thought. This was it. The moment she'd been dreading and craving in equal measure.
Julian reached out, his gloved hand catching her chin with surprising gentleness, forcing her to meet his eyes one last time. The touch was firm yet careful, as if he understood exactly how close she was to shattering.
