Ivan’s hand slid up from Arisha's jaw, cupping her face, his thumb brushing lightly across her trembling lips. The intensity in his eyes was unbearable, a fire that had been smoldering for years. He couldn’t wait anymore. The dam of frustration, longing, and unanswered questions finally broke.
Without another word, he crushed his lips against hers in a heated, desperate kiss.
The moment their lips met, every ounce of doubt vanished. It was her. The taste, the softness, the electricity that surged between them—everything screamed of that night. That one night that had haunted him for three long years. His fingers tightened on her face, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss as though he needed to convince himself it was real, as though this connection had been the missing piece gnawing at
