His expression shifted. More intense now. More serious.
“If we go all the way, Mara, I won’t take it lightly,” he said. “I’m jealous. I don’t share. When I give, it’s everything I’ve got. If I give you my heart, it won’t be halfway. Are you ready for that kind of commitment from me?”
“I am,” I whispered. “That’s exactly what I want.”
He stepped closer, his voice quieter now, more vulnerable.
“You might think it’s too much, but I’m ready to trust you with my heart. I want to be happy with you. Are you willing to trust me with yours?”
I didn’t hesitate. I nodded again.
He moved, slow and deliberate, and when he reached me, I stood to meet him. He kissed me—soft at first, then deeper, his breath warm against mine. A moan slipped from me before I realized it.
He lifted me with ease and
