"When Steel Meets Silk"

he corset. He worked well past midnight, each strike of the hammer a release of pent-up frustration and de

g deep inside. He wasn't used to holding back, used to letting the world see his power. But with her,

was a thing of beauty-sleek, curved, elegant yet powerful. It shimme

first time in days. It wasn't perfect, but it

Emilia stepped into the workshop, her gaze immediately scanning th

her voice calm but wit

rms, watching her.

d, her eyes flicking to the co

tepping aside t

he steel as if she were afraid to touch it. But then, slowly, c

way her hands caressed the steel, that made the air between them crackle with electricity. She wa

ly, turning to look at him. "Y

lia's praise felt more personal than professional. It was more

throat dry. "I'm glad

it." She reached up, her fingers grazing his jaw as if she were unsure whether

her name softly,

ntil the space between them was barely there. Her breat

see the flicker of desire in her eyes. But something inside him held him back. He wasn't sure if it was fear, or if it was som

give him a chanc

ratory. But the moment their lips met, all of the tension that had been building between them

the forge, the spark between them, ignited in

l of her in his arms, the taste of her lips

d back, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She lo

e said, her voice

words, his mind still raci

steps quick and purposeful. She paused, just bef

e said, her voice a mixture

anding there, breathless and reeling from

is was coming-knew that their connection would reach a breaking point. But he

t the corset, his

them had only j