He shouldn't have moved closer.
But he did.
And this time—
There was nothing holding him back.
Not restraint.
Not logic.
Not even the warning he had given her himself.
Aarya didn't step away.Something that made his control slip even faster.
His hand tightened around her wrist.
Not harsh.
But unyielding.
"You shouldn't have said that," he said quietly.
His voice had changed again.
Lower.
Rougher.
Not controlled anymore.
Aarya's breath hitched.
But she didn't pull away.
Instead—
she stepped closer.
Again.
That was the second mistake.
The space between them disappeared completely.
No distance.
No hesitation.
Kael's other hand came up—
gripping her jaw.
Firm.
Unmistakable.
Not asking.
Never asking.You don't get to take this back," he said.
His eyes locked onto hers—
dark.
intense.
dangerous.
Aarya's pulse raced.
Not fear.
Not anymore.
Something far worse.
"I'm not trying to," she whispered.
That was it.
That single line—
Broke whatever was left of his control.
His grip tightened instantly.Pulling her closer—
not gently.
not carefully.
Completely.
Like distance itself was no longer allowed.
His breath was uneven now.
His control—gone.
Not slipping.
Gone.
His head lowered—
not slowly this time.
not controlled.
His lips found hers again—
harder.deeper.
consuming.
Aarya's breath broke against him.
Her fingers gripped him tightly—
not pushing away.
holding on.
That reaction—
That response—
made everything worse.
His grip shifted—
pulling her even closer—
like he wasn't letting go this time.
His hand slid slightly—
still holding her still controlling the distance—
still deciding everything.
But this time—
she wasn't resisting it.
She leaned into it instead.
That was the real breaking point.
Because this wasn't just him anymore.
It was both of them.
His control had shattered—
and hers had followed.
His head moved again—
down to her throat—
the mark—
always the mark.His breath slowed—
dangerous now.
not rushed.
not uncertain.
Aarya's body stilled—
not from fear.
from anticipation.
"You wanted this," he murmured against her skin.
It wasn't a question.
A statement.
And for the first time—
she didn't deny it.
Because she couldn't .....And that—
was what made it dangerous.