Ashton’s lips hovered dangerously close to Belle’s, his breath ragged, hot, and laced with desire. Every muscle in his body strained as he leaned over her, his pulse racing as though her very presence had lit a fire in his veins. Her scent—soft, intoxicating—invaded his senses, wrapping around his thoughts like a vice. It overwhelmed him, made him forget everything, everyone, every principle he had once clung to. His hands roamed her skin, rough and desperate, marking his claim.
But then, something snapped inside him, like a thread stretched too far. His movements faltered, his grip loosened. The heat that had consumed him moments before cooled, turning into a sharp, cold clarity that cut through the haze. He blinked, his breath catching in his throat as the reality of the situation hit h
