The night's enchantment lingered in the air as Vincent's car rolled to a halt just outside the gates of the mansion. Elara, still basking in the warmth of the evening's shared intimacies, turned to him with a quizzical expression. "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"
Vincent's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to find the words. "Elara... I..." he began, his voice trailing off as a palpable tension filled the confined space of the car.
The silence stretched on, punctuated only by the thrumming of their hearts and the faint hum of the engine. Elara's brow furrowed in concern. "What?" she prompted gently, her hand instinctively reaching out to rest on his arm.
Vincent inhaled sharply, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "I had fun tonight," he managed, his tone earnest but tinged with a hint of nervousness.
