Chapter 203

Dominic paused. It was subtle, so slight that most people wouldn’t have noticed it, but Sloane did. The tension in his shoulders shifted for just a fraction of a second, like something had brushed past him unexpectedly. Still, he didn’t say anything. He simply turned and walked into the lounge. Sloane stood there for a moment, then turned toward the cabinet, preparing what she needed. The scent of disinfectant alcohol rose faintly into the air as she worked, steady and focused, grounding herself in familiar motions. Cotton, sterilizer, the acupuncture set, everything laid out in precise order. Only when she was ready did she push the door open. Inside, Dominic had already taken off his shirt. He stood with his back to her. And for a moment Sloane stopped. The world seemed to quiet around her. His back was broad, strong, unmistakably powerful. But it wasn’t unblemished. Far from it. Bruises, dark and uneven, spread across his shoulders. Old scars layered over newer ones, crossing and ov