CH 24
The underground chamber had never felt smaller. Every heartbeat, every breath, seemed amplified in the suffocating darkness. The air was thick, a mixture of fear, blood, and something far more electric—desire that neither Ethan nor Aria could ignore.
Aria pressed against him, her cheek resting on his bloodied shoulder, her hands gripping his with a desperation that went beyond fear. Every bruise, every cut that streaked his skin, only made him seem more real, more tangible, more hers. Her pulse raced as she traced the line of his jaw with trembling fingers, marveling at how even in the chaos, he radiated strength, magnetism, and a dangerous allure that made her weak.
“You’re… incredible,” she whispered, her lips barely brushing his ear.
He turned his head slightly, eyes softenin
