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.

are impossible," she sighed, bracing herself to push away-until his hand found hers and held it, tight,

please don't leave me... Jo..." he mumbled

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

are you dreaming, handsome... that could hurt

was

to feel like a woman-always the strong one, the one

here beside Alex, she found a

brushed back his hair. She traced the line of his

low, tender lullaby meant only for

now, my sweetest

your world melt

your head where my heartbeat

our souls

moon, my morning

in the

I take is

joy, through ache, through

night will keep

stars will

will be

Your safest, softest nest.

close your eyes, my precious

Let every worry go,

love will

than you can

through air, but into a memory so old and buried he'd

was five again, small enough

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

the slow rise and fall of

Then-gone.

vanished, the light drained away, and the world

He was alone.

pressed in from all sides, the kind of

child's tears fall harder.

eight

hurt as much as the

had shoved him again, mocked

he cried into

shadow

Small. Quiet. Familiar.

Josephine.

climbed onto his bed without a word, wrapping her thin arms around him

a shield.

cry," she whispered into the dark. "Everything's

she was even

of the

she

and so many others, her hug was the

to leave, he'd grip

Jo... don't leave

stay. Always. Patting his

mother once sang. Staying until the weight on

enough for him

touch

of heaven itself— warm, weightless, and perfect, as if

gentle hand, sunlight spilling across Alex's

in forever,

gone just lighter, like someone had taken half of