***Cassius***
The words were out before I could stop them.
"I never said I hated your touch."
Sharp, defensive, snapping out in response to Aldrik's prodding. And the moment they left my mouth, I felt my stomach drop.
I'd admitted it. The thing I'd been trying so hard not to reveal, the truth I'd been burying under layers of deflection and carefully maintained distance.
I looked away immediately, fixing my gaze on something past Aldrik's shoulder, anything to avoid seeing his reaction.
"Cassius," he said, and his voice had gone rough in a way that made my pulse spike.
"Forget I said that."
"I can't."
"Then that's your problem, not mine."
But even as I said it, I knew it was pointless. He'd already heard it, already understood what I'd accidentally revealed.
I heard him move, footsteps crossing the small distance between us, and I kept my eyes fixed firmly on the wall behind him, refusing to look.
