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.

push away-until his

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

there, just at the

sank down beside him. "What are you dreaming, handsome... that could

was the closest she'd ever

feel like a woman-always the

found

hair. She traced the line of

began to sing-a low, tender lullaby meant only for him, her voice

now, my

world melt into

head where

our souls

are my moon,

laughter in the

breath I take is wrapped

through ache, through

will keep your

will guard your

be the arms

Your safest, softest nest.

your eyes,

Let every worry go,

will

than you can

a memory so old and buried he'd

five again, small enough to disappear in

wrapped around him like a fortress against the world. Her voice was

rise and fall of her breathing, the weightless safety of

Then-gone.

warmth vanished, the light drained away,

He was alone.

pressed in from all sides, the kind

child's tears fall harder.

was eight now,

his body didn't hurt as much as the

had shoved him again, mocked him until he felt smaller than

cried

a shadow slipped

Small. Quiet. Familiar.

Josephine.

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

a shield.

she whispered into

age-maybe she was even younger-but she

of the orphanage

fighter when she had to

night, and so many others, her hug was the safest place he knew. When

to leave, he'd grip

Jo... don't leave me.

she'd stay. Always. Patting his

his mother once

eased enough for

himself touch

wrapping around him like the embrace of heaven itself— warm, weightless, and perfect, as if the world beyond it no

gentle hand, sunlight

time in forever,

just lighter, like someone had taken half of it away