Vivi's heart pounded in her chest, her fingers trembling as they clutched the bunched fabric of her gown, holding it high to expose her legs and the delicate white underwear that clung to her skin.
She sat there, legs parted, expecting Cassius to maintain the same professional demeanor he'd always shown. His calm, unbothered gaze had been a constant, a shield of detachment that made her feel safe, even when his hands brushed her skin or his words teased at the edges of propriety.
She'd convinced herself that no matter what happened—even if she bared herself entirely his eyes would remain steady, clinical, unaffected. He was a doctor, a professional, a man who treated her with care but never crossed the line into something more.
But as she stole a glance at him, her breath caught in her throat.
His gaze wasn't on her face, nor on her thighs as she'd expected.
No, his eyes were fixed lower—on her underwear itself.
