An indescribable current surged between them.
He swayed, and the tips of their noses brushed. The air was filled with gusts of hot wind and the frantic buzzing of cicadas. Sylvie felt like she could hear their shallow breaths.
And at that moment, Ryder Sharp suddenly smiled.
His breath came out heavy as he called her name in a low, hoarse voice, "Vivi—"
His voice, soaked in alcohol, was a deep, seductive rasp.
"Were you just trying to humor me? I think…"
"You care about me."
Sylvie's breath caught. She could feel his warm breath on her face, a tingling sensation that seemed to sear itself straight into her heart.
For no reason at all,
Her face grew hot, and her heart began to race.
The early autumn wind was cool yet carried a lingering warmth. The air around them felt charged, as if filled with sparks and thin on oxygen. The hot gusts were unsettling, and her heart pounded with unease.
