“No one will know but us,” he said, voice roughened now, edged with something fierce.
Her lips parted, a thousand protests tangled in her chest, but only one word found its way out—soft, trembling, powerless.
“Yes.”
The air tightened, snapping like a thread stretched too far.
Then his lips found hers.
Not a stolen brush this time, but a slow, lingering press, tender yet unyielding.
He kissed her like it was dangerous, like it could unravel everything, and still he deepened it—his hand sliding to cradle her jaw, holding her in place as though he didn’t trust her not to disappear.
Her breath hitched against him, her fingers clenching around the balm jar until she let it fall forgotten to the sheets.
Instinct betrayed her—she leaned into him, her lips answering softly, trembling but e
