It was late when Silas finally arrived at the mansion. Everyone had fallen asleep, but Esme was waiting for him. When he entered the hall, she rose from the sofa and rushed over to him, throwing herself onto him.
Silas held her close, savoring the warmth and familiarity of her presence.
"You are late," Esme whined. "I have been waiting for you impatiently." When she looked up at him, her eyes were full of complaints. "But it seemed that you don't miss me at all."
Silas brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and met her gaze. "It's not like that," he assured her earnestly. "Every moment without you feels like torture. You have no idea how much I wanted to be here with you." He cupped her face. "I don't have words to express how much I missed you."
He leaned in, intending to kiss her, but halted just short of her lips. Esme's breath caught in her throat, her lips trembling in anticipation. The brief pause left her feeling a mix of hope and frustration.
