Vikram's fingers tilted Keerthi's chin upward, compelling her gaze to meet the smoldering depths of his dark brown eyes. Her attention drifted to his lips as she unconsciously moistened her own, only to feel his grip intensify around her waist. Heat flooded her cheeks as she attempted to look away, but he captured her chin again, refusing to let her hide. "Keerthi," he growled, his voice thick with hunger, their mouths nearly touching as they teased the edge of a kiss. "We should get some rest unless you want this to go further." Her face burned at the unmistakable promise in his words. Yet beneath her embarrassment, a primal truth stirred—she craved his kiss. Desperately. For the very first time.