The kiss lingered, soft at first but growing in intensity with every passing second. Riley felt her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing as Alistair’s hand gently cradled her face. Every fiber of her being told her to pull away, to stop before the line they’d just crossed became impossible to retreat from, but the warmth of his lips and the depth of his touch made it impossible to resist.
She kissed him back, her movements tentative at first, as if testing the waters of an uncharted sea. When Alistair felt her response, he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. His hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, his touch firm yet tender, grounding her in the moment.
Riley’s fingers found their way to his chest, feeling the steady beat
