Her fingers curled into his tie, tightening as she pulled him back to her. This time, she kissed him slowly and deliberately. The urgency softened into something deeper, something that lingered.

Her lips traced his bottom of his lips to the top with a lingering finality, with quiet intensity, unhurried yet certain, as if sealing something neither of them could deny.

When they finally stilled, their faces remained inches apart.

Breaths mingled.

Eyes locked.

“I didn’t know you were such a good kisser,” Calvin teased, a sly smile tugging at his lips as he glanced sideways at her.

Cleopatra froze.

And then like a switch had been flipped her composure...