Luzella's words were a hesitant confession, barely audible, as Luzella's voice dropped to a whisper, "I actually don't have any clothes to change." The admission hung in the air, laced with a hint of vulnerability.
Alaric's gaze lingered on Luzella for a moment before he stepped forward, his movements decisive as he pushed open the doors to her room. He took her hand in his, his fingers wrapping around hers, and led her inside. With a gentle yet firm pull, he drew her toward the walk-in closet, its doors swinging open to reveal a treasure trove of clothes. Racks of gowns, dresses, tops, and trousers, everything related to female clothes stretched out before them, a dazzling array of colors and textures that seemed to overflow with options.
"All of these are in your size," Alaric said, his gesture encompassing the entire closet as he indicated the array of clothes, "you can wear whatever you like." His words were straightforward, without any fuss.
Luzella's eyes widened with surprise as she took in the array of clothes, her mind racing with the implications. "Oh my goodness, this many?" she said, her voice laced with a mix of astonishment and hesitation. "I don't need all this," she added, her tone suggesting she was both flattered and overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of outfits.
"You're not wearing it all at once," Alaric said with a hint of practicality. "Choose what you like and wear whatever's comfortable. If you need anything, just ask Halley or Mia, they'll take care of it."
A hint of curiosity crept into her voice as Luzella asked, "How do you know my clothes size?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze piercing as she awaited an explanation.
Alaric's eyes locked onto hers as he took a step closer, Luzella instinctively stepping backward until her back hit the wall. He placed a hand on either side of her head, his movements fluid and deliberate, effectively trapping her. The air seemed to thicken as they stood frozen, the tension palpable.
Alaric leaned in and his breath danced against her ear as he whispered, "Well, I have two eyes that could estimate your body measurements perfectly. If you have doubts that I arranged these clothes fitting wrongly, why don't I tell you what my eyes observed you?" His voice was low and husky, and unnervingly intimate, sending shivers down her spine. "Want the details?" He murmured with a gentle taunt. The air hung heavy with unspoken words, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Luzella's skin prickled as his warm breath danced against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine that seemed to resonate deep within her. His words painted a picture that left her cheeks burning with a deep flush, as if the very thought of him noticing her so intimately had ignited a fire within. The scent of his cologne wafted through the air, or maybe it's his natural body scent. Its familiar, masculine aroma strangely comforting to her, like a whispered promise of protection and closeness. As she inhaled, the fragrance mingled with the warmth of his presence, making her heart beat in a rhythm that seemed almost synchronized with his. The world around her melted away, leaving only the pounding of her heartbeat and the gentle caress of his breath on her skin.
She felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the scent, as if she'd known it her whole life, yet her mind refused to pinpoint exactly why. The fragrance seemed to stir a deep memory, one that lingered just out of reach. Without thinking, she closed the small gap between them, her body leaning into the warmth of his chest as she inhaled deeply. The scent wrapped around her, and she felt a strange sense of comfort, like coming home to a place she'd forgotten. Though the familiarity was undeniable, it remained elusive, taunting her with its secrets. As she breathed him in, her senses hummed with a quiet recognition, but the reason why remained a mystery.
Alaric's hands slid back from the wall, his arms extending, palms still facing outward, as if frozen in mid-motion, suspended in the air. He stood frozen in place, his entire body locked in stunned immobility, as if time itself had paused for a fleeting moment.
As he was snapped out of his frozen state and about to draw her closer to him, her voice suddenly cut through the air, asking her questions, "Why do I feel so familiar? Who are you?" At the sound of her words, Alaric's arms, which had been extending towards her, halted mid-air, and once again, they stood frozen, suspended in an uncompleted gesture.
A fury raged in his eyes as he wanted to strangle the very words that had just left her lips - that piercing, audacious 'WHO ARE YOU?' The urge was almost primal, as if he could somehow reach back in time and silence the question before it was even spoken. He closed his eyes, drawing in a slow, measured breath, and then exhaled, the tension seeping out of his body as he struggled to regain control. When he opened his eyes again, his voice was deep, the fury leashed but still evident, "Little girl, do you have any idea what the consequences of what you're doing might be?"
As his words hung in the air, realization slowly dawned on Luzella, a dawning understanding of what she was doing, of the precarious situation she had unwittingly stepped into. Her eyes widened slightly as the truth began to sink in, and with a sudden flush that spread across her cheeks, she took a step back from him, her movements almost instinctive. The color deepened in her face, a mix of embarrassment and apprehension, and she dropped her gaze, her eyes fixed on the floor as if unable to bear the intensity of the moment.