Chapter 35. Mysteriously Interesting

Aaron POV

I watched as she tensed immediately, her body stiff under the shirt. Her phone slipped from her hand and hit the island surface with a dull thud as she turned around to face me.

Her face had gone pale, her expression blank, and whatever spark had been in her eyes earlier had vanished. Unease crept into my chest as I narrowed my eyes, watching her take slow, deliberate steps toward me.

“Joan, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice low as she sat on the stool, her fingers intertwining tightly. From where I stood, I could see them trembling.

I moved closer, my mind racing, unsure of what I was witnessing. There was no faster way to kill a man's erection than this. I stopped at a careful distance—not too close, but close enough to study the storm of emotions flickering across her face.

“Joan?” I said softly, trying to pull her back to the moment. She wasn’t here, though—not really. It was like Joan had vanished, leaving behind this hollow