The remnants of the storm still lingered outside, rain now reduced to a soft drizzle, but inside the room, the tempest between them had only just begun.

Mehreen lay beneath Aarav, her breath coming in shallow gasps, her body still burning from the way he had claimed her. His lips hovered just above hers, his dark eyes searching hers for something-defiance, surrender, or maybe something neither of them was ready to admit.