CHAPTER 30

Patricia's awareness faded as a torrent of sensations overwhelmed her. Her mind no longer registered anything but Alvin—the taste of him, the heat of his body pressing against hers. She barely noticed when he effortlessly lifted her, their lips fused in a fiery kiss that left her dizzy. His mouth, warm and commanding, tasted like a forbidden indulgence she’d been craving for far too long.

The ache that had lingered in her for months was being satiated, little by little, with each press of his lips. She had missed this—the slow burn of desire, the way his kiss seemed to consume her. As Alvin's mouth moved against hers, it was as though he was unlocking a part of her that had lain dormant for years.

Before she knew it, her back met the soft cushion of a bed, and Patricia gasped slightly, her eyes fluttering open. This wasn’t the room she had slept in last night. The unfamiliar surroundings should have jarred her, but the moment she looked up at Alvin, all sense of place faded. His gaz