Concerned about causing discomfort, he refrained from more intimate activities, opting instead to share comforting kisses.

Resting against the pillow, Melissa gazed at him with affection. It seemed that Marcus’ heightened arousal had caused a subtle distortion in his typically composed visage, yet this distortion added a touch of rugged masculinity to his appearance.

Her heart raced.

She wriggled beneath him, cupping his face, and initiated a passionate kiss.

Marcus remained still, his intense eyes fixed on hers.