Book 3: Chapter 24

Marcela pulled back slowly, her eyes searching his for a reaction, but Santiago’s face remained as impassive as ever. The refusal in his stillness was louder than any words could have been, but Marcela didn’t look defeated. If anything, the challenge seemed to excite her. She stood up gracefully, the emerald dress cascading down her curves, and with a slow, deliberate motion, she sank to her knees in front of him.

Santiago watched her with a mixture of curiosity and guardedness, the shadow of a smirk playing on his lips as she kneeled between his legs. She tilted her head back to meet his eyes, her smile never faltering.

"You’ve always been so stubborn," she whispered, her voice low and almost taunting. She reached up, trailing her fingers along his thigh, moving closer with each breath.

Santiago’s muscles tensed at the touch, but he kept his expression neutral, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of knowing how deeply her actions affected him.

Marcela's f