The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 373

Their lips met and the world went silent.

It wasn't just a kiss-it was the kind of kiss that stripped away every defense, every mask.

Soft, deep, and achingly pure... it tasted of something Alex had never felt before.

Sweet like the first rush of young love, dangerous like a fire you couldn't stop. His breath quickened, his heart hammered so hard it hurt.

And he knew he knew-Josephine was kissing him back.

For a few intoxicating seconds, the space between them ceased to exist. Until... it stopped.

Her palm came to his cheek, warm and tender, but there was a quiet strength in it as she pushed him back.

"You really are a playboy, Alex," she said, her voice low, almost teasing-but her flushed cheeks betrayed her. Her eyes, wide and luminous, were so pure it made him ache.

"Josephine..." he whispered, his voice rough with something he couldn't name.

She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.

"What you're doing is wrong, Alex," she murmured, her tone almost scolding but laced with concern.

"You should only kiss the woman you love. And you... you already have so many -Jasmine, Sophia, Lyra... who knows how many more."

Her hand slid through his hair, smoothing it back, lingering just a moment too long.

"You're dangerously handsome, Alex. And when you kiss a woman like that, she'll believe you mean it. She'll believe she's the only one. And when she's not... you'll shatter her."

The weight of her gaze-so unguarded, so fiercely kind-hit him like a punch to the chest. Without even thinking, he nodded.

"Good." She gave a faint, almost wistful smile and stepped into his arms, resting her head against his chest.

"I forgive you, Alex... for what you just did. But don't do it again, okay?"

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as if letting go would break something fragile.

And in that moment, something shifted. This wasn't lust. It wasn't conquest.

It was something rarer-peace, in its purest form. A quiet, unshakable care. He'd never felt it before. And it scared him.

Minutes passed, slow and heavy, their bodies warm against each other.

Then Josephine's voice broke the silence. "Alex... I think it's time to let go." He didn't move.

"Alex?" she said again, tilting her face up.

"Are you... asleep?"

Her eyes widened. The man who had stolen a kiss from her was now sleeping soundly against her, breathing like he'd found his safe place.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," she muttered under her breath.

"Now you're making me do all the work." Her annoyance was real, but her lips betrayed her with the faintest smile.

Her gaze lingered on his face... then dropped to his lips. Heat rose to her cheeks all over again.

"You're lucky, Alex," she whispered. "I've been strong enough for heavy lifting since I was a kid. I'll help you to bed... but you'd better thank me. And maybe give me a raise."

She hooked her arms under his and half-dragged, half-carried him toward his

room.

With a firm kick, she opened the door and dropped him onto the bed-only to find his arms locked around her, pulling her down with him.

sighed, bracing herself to push away-until his hand

leave me... Jo..." he mumbled in his

beautiful in rest-and there, just at the corner of his closed eyes, a tear traced its way down. Something inside her

"What are you dreaming, handsome... that could hurt you this

was

never allowed herself to feel like a woman-always the strong

here beside Alex, she found a softness in herself she didn't

back his hair. She traced the line of his jaw, memorizing him in

without thinking, she began to sing-a low, tender lullaby meant only for him, her

now, my sweetest

your world

your head where

feel our

are my moon,

in

I take is wrapped in

through

night will keep

will guard your

be the arms you

Your safest, softest nest.

close your eyes,

Let every worry go,

will

you

into a memory so old and buried he'd almost convinced

enough to disappear in his mother's

fortress against the world. Her voice was a soft, steady lullaby each

could feel the slow rise and fall

Then-gone.

drained away,

He was alone.

in from all sides, the

child's tears fall harder.

was eight

body didn't hurt as

boys had shoved him again, mocked

cried into

a shadow

Small. Quiet. Familiar.

Josephine.

word, wrapping her

a shield.

into

were the same age-maybe she was even younger-but

the

she had to

hug was the safest place he knew. When

he'd grip her hand with

Jo... don't leave

Always. Patting

his mother once

eased enough for him to

let himself touch that memory in

now it returned, wrapping around him like the embrace of heaven itself— warm,

hand, sunlight spilling across Alex's face in golden

in forever, the heaviness

someone had taken half of it