Liora pulled back, breathless.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as her fingers loosened their grip on Xu Kai's shirt. The space between them felt heavy with everything unspoken. She could still feel the heat of his lips on hers, the tingling sensation where his hand rested on her waist. Her heart beat like a war drum in her chest, wild and out of rhythm.
She looked up, eyes wide, unsure of what she'd find.
But what she saw made her breath catch all over again.
Xu Kai was staring at her like he was trying to burn her into memory—like she was the only thing in the world he could see. His gaze was molten, hot and intense, and it didn't waver. Not even for a second.
Liora's cheeks flushed deep red. She suddenly became aware of how close they were, how daring she had been, how she had kissed him without warning or permission. Her courage fizzled, replaced by panic and embarrassment.
