"I'm married," she said at last, the words trembling on her lips, more like a confession than a protest.
"I know," Ross replied, his voice low, almost soothing.
He moved his hand up to her shoulder and gently turned her to face him.
Kristine allowed it, her breathing shallow, heart hammering inside her chest.
Their eyes locked, and in that long, unbroken gaze, everything was laid bare—her loneliness, his confidence, her guilt, his hunger.
Ross leaned in slowly, without a word, giving her time to decide. She could pull away. She could say no. But she didn't.
His face came closer. Her body didn't move. Her lips parted slightly, and for a heartbeat, nothing existed except the heat between them and the anticipation humming in the air.
Then, finally, their lips met.
Kristine let out a soft, shuddering breath against his mouth.
"Ahhhh…"
It wasn't just a kiss. It was a release. A surrender to everything she had held back for too long.
