Chapter 31

• As Maya left the room, her presence lingering in the air like a sweet, intoxicating fragrance, Nicklaus found himself rooted to the spot, his mind reeling with the shock of what had just transpired. He couldn't believe that he had actually kissed Maya, couldn't believe that he had allowed himself to give in to the overwhelming desire that had been building within him for so long.
• For a moment, he stood there in stunned silence, his thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of conflicting emotions and desires. On one hand, he felt an overwhelming sense of exhilaration, a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins at the memory of Maya's soft lips pressed against his, her body melting into his embrace with a passion that left him breathless and dizzy with desire.
• But beneath the surface of his elation lurked a nagging sense of doubt and uncertainty, a fear that he had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed, that he had jeopardized everything he held dear for the fleeting ecstasy of a stolen kiss. He knew that he had betrayed Maya's trust, that he had overstepped the boundaries of their professional relationship in a way that could never be undone.