The smile that had appeared on Rakshasa's lips lingered for a few more seconds, as if she were savoring not only the food before her, but also the response she had elicited from him.
The tension between them hadn't lessened; it had merely transformed into something more refined, denser, like a game that had ceased to be impulsive and become deliberate.
Victor, for his part, didn't hold the moment for long. He looked away from her for an instant, not in retreat, but in choice, like someone consciously deciding to end one move to begin another.
He took another piece of fish into his mouth, chewing calmly, allowing the silence to settle between them just long enough not to become empty.
"I've talked too much about myself," he said finally, lightly wiping his fingers with the cloth beside the table, his tone now more neutral, but still firm. His eyes returned to her with the same attentive gleam as before. "Now I want to know about you."
