As Layla pulled away, her eyes met Lucius's intense gaze. Before she could understand, he closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. The intensity of it stole the air from her lungs, forcing her to breathe through her nose as she matched his rhythm.
Her body instinctively pressed closer to him while her hands cradled the back of his neck, her fingers threading through his hair as she surrendered completely to the moment.
After a while, they slowly withdrew from the kiss, their eyes locked in an unspoken connection. Layla smiled softly, suggesting, "Maybe we should head back to the shore."
Lucius tilted his head, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Has your fear gone?"
"With you, yes. Without you… I'm not so sure," Layla admitted with a light laugh.
"Then let's put an end to that fear," Lucius said with a determined smile. He gently loosened her grip around his neck.
