Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 909:

All along their road, danger had been a constant shadow. Again and again, they had shoved their feelings aside, burying them where no one could see. But now the dam broke. The kiss let everything flow free. In that instant, nothing stood between them—not fear, not silence—only the fierce, overwhelming love that had been locked away for far too long. Chris kissed her more deeply, as though he could draw her into himself completely, as if they were meant to become one.

Every brush of skin sent heat through them, searing and intense. Maia could feel it—his need to claim her—but layered with a gentleness she had never known. He was holding her like something precious.

She gripped his wide, solid shoulders, answering his kiss without thinking. Her body slowly yielded, growing weak in his arms, melting into him, letting him lead without resistance.

Their breath came faster with every second, and the air between them thickened—charged with desire and raw closeness.

Fueled by burning desire, Chris swept Maia into his arms, cradling her sideways against his chest. He pulled her even closer, and they collapsed together onto the spacious living room sofa.

new kind of tenderness seemed to soak into

press gentle, lingering kisses along the curve of her

Maia shivered. A warm blush bloomed across her face, painting her cheeks with a deep, irresistible

lower, and everywhere he touched seemed to awaken on her skin—each inch turning hypersensitive, as though set alight. Just when the moment teetered on the edge, he suddenly stopped. He placed his palms gently on either

and he looked straight into Maia’s eyes. There was a weight in his voice she hadn’t heard before—firm, sincere, steady.

𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺

thudded in her chest, loud

strikingly handsome—and in that stillness, memories of their journey rushed back. A deep,

unrelenting. Yet in that

truly loved her—and someone she truly loved in return. So even though she had liked Vince so much before, she had never thought of being with him without knowing his true

pretending. Lying to herself—pretending not to feel this—was