***Ella***
He swallows hard, nods once, and in a heartbeat, he’s kneeling beside me.
His hands cradle my face, his touch gentle despite the tension radiating off him. His eyes search mine, dark with emotion...need.
And then, finally—finally—he closes the distance between us.
Our kiss is soft, delicate—so much like our very first on the footbridge that it sends a shiver through me. But this time, I don’t hesitate. I deepen it instantly, my already overheated hands sliding around the back of his neck, pulling him closer as his grip tightens around my waist. His body presses into mine, solid and warm, a perfect contrast to the crisp night air.
His fingers skim lightly over my back, his touch igniting tingling trails along my skin. There’s a reverence in the way he holds me, his lips movi
