Maya stared at Alexander, seeing the vulnerability he was trying so hard to hide. This was the most powerful man she'd ever known, admitting that he was afraid.
"What are you saying?" she asked quietly.
"I'm saying I want to try. I want to see if we can make this work, despite all the reasons why we shouldn't."
Maya's heart was racing. "And if it doesn't work?"
"Then at least we'll know we tried."
Maya thought about all the reasons why this was a terrible idea. The power imbalance, the potential for scandal, the very real possibility that she'd end up with a broken heart. But then she looked into Alexander's eyes and saw her own hopes reflected back at her.
"Okay," she whispered.
Alexander's face lit up with a smile that took her breath away. "Okay?"
"Yes. Let's try."
Alexander crossed the room in three quick strides and pulled her into his arms, kissing her with all the pent-up longing of the past weeks. Maya melted into him, finally allowing herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, this could work.
When they finally broke apart, Alexander rested his forehead against hers.
"No more pretending," he said.
"No more pretending," Maya agreed.