**Stefano’s POV**

It was barely a kiss; it was more like a ghost of a touch, a brush of lips so light I thought I might have imagined it. I froze. My breath hitched in my lungs, and every muscle in my body turned to stone. I wanted to pull her closer, to devour her, but I forced myself to stay still. I had to let her set the pace. I had to let her decide if this was what she truly wanted.

Her lips were softer than I remembered, or maybe I’d forgotten what it was like to be touched like ...