EMILIA’S POV

Our lips were still tingling from the kiss — that desperate, shaking, soul-deep kiss that felt like it pulled the breath straight out of my lungs. My hands were still tangled in his hair, his fingers still gripping my waist like he couldn’t decide whether to keep me close or pull me fully into him.

Then, slowly, Maximus pulled back.

But he didn’t pull far.

Just enough for our foreheads to touch. Enough that his warm breath brushed across my lips, soft and uneven.

We both let out a shaky laugh at the same time.

A small, quiet moment—but it felt huge. Like our bodies were finally remembering...