Gunnar’s POV

“Being an Emberwyn does not make you untouchable, Carian,” I said firmly, my voice lower now, more serious than before.

She didn’t argue. She didn’t get defensive.

Instead—

She smiled.

That same calm, knowing smile that always made it hard for me to stay angry at her.

Before I could say anything else, she stepped closer to me. Too close.

Her hands came up, resting lightly against my chest, and before I could react—

She kissed me deeply, slowly, and deliberately.

The kind of kiss that made it hard to think straight.

The kind that always made me forget what I was about to say.

My hands instinctively...