The Heat Of Night

Liora's POV

My body was a live wire, humming with need as Ronan hovered over me, his eyes burning into mine like he could see every secret I’d ever hidden. The air in the room felt thick, heavy with the scent of chlorine from outside and something muskier—us, tangled in this reckless moment.

His belt was undone, jeans pushed low on his hips, and I could feel the heat of him pressing close, the tension between us like a storm about to break. My heart hammered so loud I swore he could hear it, feel it against his chest where my hands still clutched at him

He didn’t rush with me. Instead, he dipped his head, capturing my mouth in a kiss that was slower this time, deeper, his tongue sliding against mine in lazy strokes that made my toes curl.

I sighed into him, my fingers tracing down his back, feeling the ridges of muscle shift under my touch. He tasted like forbidden things—smoke and sin and the kind of danger that made my pulse race

His hand trailed down my side, fingers brushing the torn slit of my skirt, pushing it higher until cool air whispered against my skin.

I gasped as he broke the kiss, his lips moving to my neck, pressing soft, lingering kisses along the curve where my pulse fluttered. “You’re so responsive,” he murmured, his voice a gravelly whisper that sent shivers racing over me. “Like you’ve been waiting for this”

I had been, not for him specifically, but for something, anything, to shatter the invisible cage I’d lived in. His breath was warm against my collarbone, his touch light as he traced patterns that made me arch closer. I felt alive under his gaze, seen in a way that made my chest ache

His hand slipped lower, gentle, exploring with a care that contrasted the fire in his eyes. I whimpered softly, my hips shifting toward him instinctively. “Please,” I breathed, the word slipping out like a confession

He smiled against my skin, a low hum of approval vibrating through me. His fingers moved with purpose, slow and attentive, drawing out sensations that built like a wave inside me.

The world narrowed to his touch, the way he knew exactly how to make me tremble, how to pull soft sounds from my throat that I didn’t recognize as my own

His mouth followed, trailing kisses down my chest, his breath hot through the fabric of my top. I arched into him, lost in the warmth, the intimacy of it all. He whispered my name like a secret, his hands holding me steady as the tension coiled tighter, my breath coming in short gasps

“Ronan,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “It’s too much”

“Not enough,” he replied softly, his eyes meeting mine with a depth that made my heart stutter. He leaned in again, capturing my lips as his touch intensified, guiding me toward that edge with a patience that felt almost reverent

The pleasure built, overwhelming, until I was trembling, my fingers tangled in his hair. He held me through it, his presence an anchor as the wave crested and crashed, leaving me breathless and spent

He eased back, kissing my forehead, then my cheeks, gathering me close as my body quieted. “You’re incredible,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion

I reached for him, my hand finding his, our fingers intertwining. He was still there, solid and warm, and for a moment I let myself believe this could be more than a fleeting night. But the pull between us was too strong to ignore, the need still simmering

He shifted, drawing me nearer, his body aligning with mine in a way that promised everything. “Ready?” he asked, his eyes searching mine, full of that same intensity

I nodded, pulling him down. “Yes”

He moved slowly, carefully, the connection between us deepening in a rush of heat and closeness. The world faded to just us, breath mingling, hearts pounding in sync, the night wrapping around us like a veil

Everything blurred into sensation and need, his arms around me, his whispers in my ear, the way we fit together like we were meant to. It was overwhelming, beautiful, a moment that etched itself into my soul

When the haze finally lifted, I was curled against his chest, limbs heavy, body aching in the best way. He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, pulling the blanket over us like a promise. His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back as my eyes drifted shut, safe in the quiet aftermath of something that had changed me forever

The night stretched on, and he held me through it, our breaths syncing in the dark. I didn’t know then how much that one evening would haunt me, how the memory of his touch would linger like a shadow I couldn’t escape. But in that moment, wrapped in his arms, I felt whole for the first time