Chapter 28

His kiss was intoxicating. A primal heat flared within Elise, warring with the voice of reason in her head. She tried to resist, a flicker of defiance sparking in her eyes. But Rygan’s touch ignited a wildfire in her senses, a yearning she couldn’t explain. Each brush of his lips, each graze of his hand, sent a jolt through her body, leaving her breathless and wanting more.

He deepened the kiss, his tongue a forceful exploration. It was a clash of dominance and surrender, a dance between control and raw desire. Her mind swam, consumed by the intoxicating scent of pine needles and earth that clung to him, a scent uniquely Rygan and utterly captivating.

A whimper escaped her lips as his hand traced a path down her spine, sending shivers cascading over her skin. Her nipples hardened, aching with a sensitivity she’d never known. His touch was a brand, a searing claim that sent a delicious wave of panic and exhilaration through her.

“Rygan,” she breathed, her voice trem