“Come here,” he murmured.

I did.

He lifted his hand to my jaw, guiding my chin up—not forcing, just touching, holding. His thumb brushed my cheek, slow enough to feel like memory.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

No teasing. No hesitation. Just truth.

I nodded once. “Yes.”

He kissed me.

Not like last night’s slow discovery.

This was deeper.

Warmer.

His hand slid to the back of my neck, his other arm wrapping around my waist, pulling me fully against him. My fingers curled into ...