Andrew unexpectedly felt a wet sensation on his hand.

For a brief moment, a wave of desire threatened to consume him, but just as quickly, his unwavering self-discipline took over, and he stopped himself.

"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" Andrew asked softly, withdrawing his hand and planting a gentle kiss on Lauren's forehead.

"You're so annoying!" Lauren pouted, playfully hitting Andrew's chest with her delicate fist.

Her legs still felt weak, and a strange sensation lingered in the center of her being—a feeling she'd never experienced before. It was unfamiliar but irresistibly enticing.

Andrew chuckled apologetically. "Maybe it's because I finally let go of some old emotional baggage. I couldn't help myself. If you weren't ready, I wouldn't have done anything to push you."

Lauren's heart swelled with joy. Andrew's desire for her, his willingness to claim her entirely, meant that she was now the only woman in his heart.

The shadow of the past—her rival, Christ