"Can you not act like I just told you the world was ending?"
Cruxius sighed, dragging his hand down from her face. His thumb brushed against the fullness of her lower lip as he pulled away, leaving a lingering trail of heat that made Thalia's breath hitch. He knew all too well that dealing with this woman was a hassle—especially now, when he needed time, and that time had just been restrained by the sudden arrival of a variable.
"You kidnapped me from a hotel, dumped me in a car, and now you're springing a marriage proposal? You are the end of the world!"
Thalia, still struggling and flushed with a mix of fury and adrenaline, yanked his hand away with unexpected force. Her chest heaved beneath the thin fabric of her blouse, the frantic rhythm of her heart visible in the pulse point of her throat.
'…Wasn't she the one?'
