In the heart of a forgotten forest, beneath the silver light of a full moon, Esme found herself running—her breath shallow, her skin tingling with anticipation rather than fear. The trees whispered secrets as the wind caressed her bare shoulders, guiding her deeper into the shadows. She wasn’t running from anything; she was running to him.

Ronan had always been a phantom in her life. A lover hidden in the dark, appearing only when the night was at its darkest. Their connection was magnetic, undeniable—every touch of his sending electricity through her veins, every whisper of his name making her body tremble with need.

She saw him before she heard him. Standing against a towering oak, his broad figure silhouetted by the moonlight, eyes dark and burning as they locked onto her. His presence alone was enough to make her pulse quicken.

“I knew you’d come,” his voice, deep and rough, resonated through the night.

“I couldn’t stay away,” Esme replied breathlessly, her feet slowing as she approached him. She stopped just inches from him, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths, heat pooling in her belly from the nearness of him.

Without another word, Ronan closed the distance, his hands gripping her waist, pulling her flush against his hard body. Esme gasped as his lips crashed against hers, rough and urgent, tasting of hunger and desire. His kiss was punishing, but she welcomed it, sinking into him, her fingers tangling in his hair, tugging as he devoured her.

“Do you know what you do to me?” he growled against her lips, his hands sliding lower, tracing the curve of her hips, squeezing hard enough to leave a mark. She moaned softly, feeling the ache of his words settle deep within her.

“I need you,” she breathed, her voice a plea as she pressed her body against his, feeling the hard evidence of his desire straining between them.

His response was immediate. In one swift motion, he spun her around, pressing her back against the tree, his hand sliding up her thigh, pushing her dress higher until it bunched at her waist. His fingers brushed against her, teasing, making her whimper in frustration.

“You belong to me,” Ronan whispered, his breath hot against her ear as his fingers finally slid inside her, slow and deliberate. “And I’m going to remind you of that tonight.”

Esme gasped, her back arching against the tree, her body coming alive under his touch. She could feel the heat radiating off him, could feel the raw intensity of his desire as he worked her with his fingers, each stroke sending her spiraling closer to the edge.

“Ronan…please,” she moaned, her body trembling, aching for release.

With a low growl, Ronan withdrew his hand, spinning her around once more so she was facing him, his eyes dark and wild. In one swift motion, he unbuckled his belt, freeing himself. He didn’t wait, didn’t ask for permission. He claimed her, thrusting into her with a force that made her cry out, her fingers digging into his shoulders as pleasure and pain intertwined.

Each movement was primal, rough, but filled with a passion that set her body ablaze. The world around them disappeared as they moved together, a frenzy of heat, need, and desire. His name fell from her lips in desperate whispers as he drove her higher, the pressure building inside her until it finally broke free in a wave of ecstasy.

Ronan followed her over the edge, his body tensing, his grip on her tightening as he found his own release, burying his face in her neck as they both trembled through the aftermath.

For a moment, there was only silence—just the sound of their labored breaths mingling with the wind in the trees. Then, slowly, Ronan pulled back, his forehead resting against hers, his hands cradling her face.

“You’re mine,” he whispered again, softer this time, his voice laced with tenderness.

Esme smiled, her body still trembling from their shared passion. “Always.”