It took me longer than I expected to catch my breath after that kiss. Ray didn’t rush me, didn’t crowd me, didn’t do anything except stay still with his forehead resting lightly against mine, like he was giving me a chance to pull away if I changed my mind. But I didn’t. I stayed there, in that warm, quiet space between us, where everything felt slow and careful and strangely safe despite the fact that he was—well—him.
A mafia leader.
My stalker, technically.
But also the man who kissed me like I was something more than just someone he’d been watching. The man who touched me like I was breakable even if I didn’t feel like I was. The man who said he wanted to go at my pace even though I could feel the tension in him, like he was holding back mountains.
I leaned back only when my heartbe
