Chapter 58

Sylvia’s POV I winced as his fingers grazed a tender spot on my scalp—a small friction burn from my struggle earlier. Instinctively, I pulled away from his touch. "It's nothing, just minor scrapes," I said quickly, avoiding his penetrating gaze. Even after everything that had happened, after the way he'd rescued me and that earth-shattering kiss in his car, my walls remained firmly in place. "You should go now. I can manage on my own." The bathroom suddenly felt too small, too intimate with Caesar's towering presence. His scent—pine, winter air, and something distinctly alpha—surrounded me, making it hard to breathe. Hard to think clearly. I noticed his eyes darkening, the muscle in his jaw tightening. Even now, after he'd seen me at my most vulnerable, I couldn't let him in. Couldn't show weakness. "You call these 'minor'?" His voice dropped an octave, concern edged with frustration. Not catching the shift in his tone, I shrugged. "Yeah, it's nothing serious. I'll be fine after some s