Chapter 9 Burned Kiss

• As dinner drew to a close, the tension that had simmered between them all evening reached a boiling point. Sofia felt it in the way Marco’s gaze lingered, in the way his voice softened, the words laced with a darker promise. The room felt smaller, the air heavier with a dangerous intimacy that seemed to wrap around them like a silken noose.
• Sofia pushed back her chair, ready to retreat. “I think I should—”
• But Marco moved swiftly, stepping closer and blocking her path. His hand reached out, gripping her wrist with a firm but surprisingly gentle touch. “Leaving already?” he asked, a faint smile curving his lips. His tone was playful, but there was an unmistakable authority behind it.