His Cold Heart, Her Hidden Fire

Previously

…“And you’re not afraid of getting burned, Hayes?” she’d challenged, her voice trembling despite her efforts. His eyes, dark and intense, held hers. “I’m starting to think I’m more afraid of not getting burned.” He leaned in, his breath warm against her lips, and for a breathless moment, the world outside the dusty archives ceased to exist. It was just them, the forbidden attraction, the dangerous allure of their shared secret. He kissed her then, a desperate, hungry kiss that stole her breath and shattered the carefully constructed walls she’d built around her heart. It was a stolen moment, a sliver of stolen intimacy in the heart of their manufactured war, and it left her aching for more.