Maya's heartbeat was so loud that it was all she could hear. The kiss on her hand had lasted only a second, but her skin still tingled where his lips had touched—not with warmth, but with the wrongness of it.
She had hoped she wouldn't be recognized. She had planned to bow, set down the tray, and slip away unnoticed. At no point had she expected Alpha Claude to not only recognize her but to act as he had.
"Alpha Claude," she mumbled weakly as he let go of her hand.
She was glad to have it back by her side, but the damage was done. There was no way she could have refused or pretended she wasn't who he thought. It felt like he had expected that.
He sat back on the long chair, his bare chest exposed. She hadn't noticed his attire at first. She had deliberately avoided looking in his direction, even when she bowed. But now that she saw it, she couldn't even afford to be shocked. Not with Keenan's gaze burning into her back.
