ALARIC'S POV
I walked Kimani up to her room, my hand still brushing lightly against hers. I didn’t want to let go. Every step we took along the quiet hallway felt like an echo of what had just happened — that perfect evening by the lake, her soft laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she saw the ring.
Now, as we stopped in front of her door, I found myself hesitating. The air between us felt charged, warm, like the remnants of a spark that refused to die down. She turned to face me, her lips parting slightly as if to say something, but no words came.
I didn’t think — I just acted.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I reached for her, pulling her close, and kissed her. Hard.
It wasn’t gentle like the one by the lake. This one was fire and relief and need — the kind of kiss that sai
