Chapter 22 Many Questions

• Ann decided to challenge his words, she pressed her hands harder against his chest, keeping him pinned as best as she could. But deep down, she knew if he wanted to, he could easily flip her over, reclaiming control in an instant. The fact that he didn’t made her feel powerful in a way she never had before.
• For a moment, they were frozen like that, their breathing the only sound in the clearing. The intensity between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken tension. She could feel his heart beating beneath her palms, strong and steady, matching the rapid rhythm of her own.
• Then, without warning, Darius’ hands tightened slightly on her thighs, his grip firm but gentle as he slowly sat up, bringing their bodies even closer. Ann gasped softly at the sudden closeness, but didn’t move, her hands now resting on his shoulders as she straddled his lap.