Arya's POV

I was lost in the sensation of his lips on my neck, in the way his hands held me, and in his heart beating hard against my chest, keeping the same frantic rhythm as mine.

When he moved away, I instinctively reached for him, my body protesting the sudden loss of contact, but he took a step back, creating distance between us.

I blinked to clear the fog, looking at him in confusion.

—Giovanni…

"This was a mistake," he said, his voice flat.

I blinked again, sure I had misheard.

-That?

"T