Aria's heart sank when she saw the hesitation in Tristan's eyes.
"This... this was a mistake," she whispered, starting to pull away.
But Tristan stopped her, his hand gently holding her waist.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked, his voice low and unsure.
Aria met his gaze, her heart pounding. "I just want you," she said softly before leaning in to kiss him.
Tristan kissed her deeply, letting go of the restraint he had been holding onto. His lips moved from her mouth to her neck, lingering on the spot where his mark would go. The need to claim her was strong, but he held himself back, knowing this moment was about more than just instincts.
Instead, he let his lips trail lower, pressing soft kisses along her skin. Aria gasped at the sensation, her body instinctively moving closer to him. But Tristan's hands held her still.
He pulled back slightly, his fingers brushing her cheek as he looked into her eyes.
"This is your first time... isn't it?" he asked softly.
