The night air was thick with tension as Hua, Ming, and Evelyn moved swiftly through the shadows, putting as much distance as they could between themselves and their enemies. Every step was calculated, their senses on high alert as they navigated through the city's narrow alleyways. It wasn't safe to stop, but eventually, they found temporary refuge in an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city.
Evelyn went to scout the area while Hua and Ming waited inside the crumbling structure. The atmosphere between them was charged, thick with the unspoken emotions that had been building since their previous kiss. Ming stayed close to Hua, his eyes following her every movement as if afraid to lose sight of her.
The building was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the moon that filtered in through the broken windows. Hua leaned against a wall, her heart still racing from the tension of their escape, but there was another reason for her nervous energy—Ming.
He moved toward her, his presence both comforting and intense. His gaze was locked on her, and Hua felt the heat of it, sending shivers down her spine. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them felt electric, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on them.
"Hua," Ming's voice was low and soft, breaking the silence. He reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her skin, and Hua's breath caught in her throat.
"Ming…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. She wasn't sure what to say, how to express the flood of emotions she was feeling. Part of her wanted to push him away, to keep her focus on the mission, but the other part of her—the part that had fallen for him—couldn't resist the pull she felt toward him.
His hand cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "I can't stop thinking about you," he admitted, his eyes searching hers. "No matter what's going on, you're always on my mind. I don't want to lose you, Hua."
Her heart swelled at his words, but fear gripped her as well. She had always been careful, always focused on survival, on the mission. But Ming made her want something more—something she wasn't sure she was ready for.
"I'm scared," she admitted, her voice trembling. "What if something happens to us? What if this doesn't last?"
Ming's gaze softened as he stepped closer, their bodies almost touching. "Then we make the most of the time we have," he whispered. "Right now, in this moment, it's just us."
Without waiting for her response, Ming leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. Hua's heart raced as she closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the moment. His kiss was gentle but filled with longing, as if he had been holding back for too long.
They pulled apart for a brief second, their foreheads resting against each other. Hua could feel Ming's breath against her lips, their closeness overwhelming her senses. She could barely think, her mind clouded by the intensity of the emotions between them.
Ming kissed her again, this time deeper, more passionate. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him as their kiss intensified. Hua's hands found their way to the back of his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she kissed him back with equal fervor.
For a few moments, the world outside didn't exist. There were no enemies, no mission, no danger—just the two of them, lost in each other.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads still pressed together. Hua's heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel Ming's pulse racing beneath her fingertips.
"I love you, Hua," Ming whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't care what happens. I'm not letting you go."
Hua's eyes welled with tears, overwhelmed by the intensity of his feelings. "I love you too," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "But we have to be careful. There's so much at stake."
"I know," Ming said softly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "But that doesn't change how I feel."
For a moment, they simply held each other, the weight of their emotions hanging in the air. Hua knew that the road ahead would be difficult, filled with danger and uncertainty. But in that moment, wrapped in Ming's arms, she felt like maybe—just maybe—they could face whatever came their way.