POV: Allison

As I stared into his eyes, the room seemed to shrink around us, the air thick with unspoken tension. I thought back to when Ray had calmly pulled my hand to his chest. His heartbeat thrummed steadily beneath my palm, a rhythmic pulse that felt both grounding and intoxicating.

"You hurt me right here," he said, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of emotion. His gaze locked onto mine, intense and unyielding, as if daring me to look away. I felt his words resonate deep within me, a mix of guilt and desire swirling in my chest. Slowly, he began to pull away, his eyes never...