The kiss lingered far longer than I expected,not because Leon forced it—
but because neither of us pulled away.
His lips moved against mine slowly, deliberately, like he was afraid that if he hurried, the moment would break apart. There was no urgency in it,no hunger that demanded more. Just a quiet intensity that made my chest ache and my hands tremble where they rested against his shirt.
For a second, fear clawed at me.
Fear of being wrong.
Fear of believing too much.
Fear that this, too, would be taken away but then I felt his hand slide up, warm and steady, cupping my cheek as if anchoring me in place and I kissed him back.
The instant my lips responded, something fragile but powerful shifted between us. The tension I’d been carrying for days—weeks—loosened its grip. My breath t
