Olívia finally smiled.

The kind of smile capable of tearing down whatever defenses he still had left.

“That was the only key capable of unlocking this path.”

The silence between them lasted only a second.

Then he kissed her.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It carried everything he had been holding back—desire, hunger, emotion, need. His lips claimed hers firmly, without haste, like a man finally surrendering to what had long been inevitable. The kiss deepened, hot and relentless, and Olívia felt her e