12-26-2024, 10:41 PM
Maksim gave Alina a small, reassuring squeeze on the shoulder as she stepped forward, but his eyes flickered toward the hallway they’d come from, watching for any sign of movement. He stood slightly off to the side, hands clasped behind his back, doing his best to appear casual, though there was a subtle tension in the way he held himself. This wasn’t a conversation he wanted anyone to stumble upon.
As Alina pressed Jensen’s hand to her stomach and spoke, Maksim felt a pang of emotion—a quiet pride for her courage—but it was quickly tempered by the reality of where they were. His gaze shifted briefly to Jensen, who handled the moment with a calm reverence that even Maksim found disarming. Still, the practical part of him itched to move on.
When Jensen stepped back, offering his congratulations, Maksim seized the moment. “Alina,” he said gently but firmly. “We should return to the party. We’ve been gone long enough.” His tone was polite but carried a quiet insistence, his eyes briefly meeting Jensen’s in a nod of gratitude before flicking back to her.
He placed a hand lightly on her back, guiding her subtly. “Thank you,” he said to Jensen, keeping his voice low. “But we don’t want to draw attention. Best we all get back.” With that, Maksim gestured for Alina to follow, his movements calm and measured, but his message clear: the moment was done, and it was time to go.
As Alina pressed Jensen’s hand to her stomach and spoke, Maksim felt a pang of emotion—a quiet pride for her courage—but it was quickly tempered by the reality of where they were. His gaze shifted briefly to Jensen, who handled the moment with a calm reverence that even Maksim found disarming. Still, the practical part of him itched to move on.
When Jensen stepped back, offering his congratulations, Maksim seized the moment. “Alina,” he said gently but firmly. “We should return to the party. We’ve been gone long enough.” His tone was polite but carried a quiet insistence, his eyes briefly meeting Jensen’s in a nod of gratitude before flicking back to her.
He placed a hand lightly on her back, guiding her subtly. “Thank you,” he said to Jensen, keeping his voice low. “But we don’t want to draw attention. Best we all get back.” With that, Maksim gestured for Alina to follow, his movements calm and measured, but his message clear: the moment was done, and it was time to go.