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.

to push away-until his hand

me... Jo..." he

there, just at the

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

as she smiled faintly. This was the closest she'd ever been to

woman-always the strong one, the

Alex, she found a softness in herself

brushed back his hair. She traced the line of his

sing-a low, tender lullaby meant only for him, her voice trembling with something she couldn't quite

now, my sweetest

your world melt into

your head where

feel our

moon, my

laughter in

breath I take is wrapped in

joy, through ache, through

night will keep

will guard your

I will be the arms you

Your safest, softest nest.

close your eyes,

Let every worry go,

my love will

than you

memory so old and buried he'd almost convinced himself

enough to

voice was a soft, steady lullaby

the slow rise and fall of her

Then-gone.

vanished, the light drained away,

He was alone.

from all sides, the kind of emptiness that

child's tears fall harder.

scene shifted. He was eight now,

as much as the ones in his

mocked him until he felt smaller than

cried into that

a shadow slipped

Small. Quiet. Familiar.

Josephine.

bed without a word, wrapping her thin arms around

a shield.

she whispered into

the same age-maybe she

of the

fighter when she

hug was

leave, he'd grip her hand with desperate

Jo... don't leave

she'd stay. Always. Patting

the same lullaby his mother once sang.

eased enough for him to

himself touch

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

sunlight

For the first time in forever, the heaviness in his

maybe not gone just lighter, like someone had