Chapter 34 The Threshold of Truth

*Aryanna*

His breath mingled with mine, and his eyes poured over me, intense and unguarded. The rise and fall of his chest mirrored my own, each breath in sync. I became acutely aware of the heat radiating from him, bathing me in his warmth. Time seemed to dissolve, leaving us in a quiet, breathless suspension where even the slightest movement felt profound, a touch on the edge of something we could neither name nor ignore. His eyes moved languidly to my lips with a look of long-suffering want.