Chen’s confession that he is starting to fall for me hangs in the air between us, heavy with meaning and raw vulnerability, making my heart pound harder against my ribs. His words strip away the last of my resistance, leaving only pure, unfiltered desire in their wake. I kiss him with a hunger that surges through my veins, pressing him down onto the luxurious bed. His body beneath mine is a masterpiece of raw power, sculpted muscle, and searing heat.

His breath hitches as I trail my lips down his chest, savoring the way his skin trembles under my touch. My hands explore every inch of him, tracing the defined ridges of his abdomen, feeling the tension coiling beneath. My tongue flicks over the sensitive skin above the sea-dragon tattoo on his right hip, and his growl of pleasure sends shivers cascading down my spine. I follow the narrow trail of jet-black hair just beneath his navel, admiring the deep, pronounced V-line of his lower abdomen and his phenomenal abs—an intimate promise of equal strength and temptation. I almost purr. Definitely drool.