Diana's breath caught as Alejandro's hand lingered on her waist, his touch igniting a fire that refused to be extinguished. The night air around them felt charged, every sound amplified, the rustle of leaves, the faint chirp of crickets, and the distant creak of Mrs. Alvarez's lantern swaying as she walked away.
"You need to go back," Alejandro said, his voice barely above a whisper, though his hand still hadn't left her.
"I can't," she admitted, her voice breaking. "Staying away from you is impossible, Alejandro."
His jaw clenched, his gaze torn between restraint and desire. "You think it's easy for me? Every moment I'm near you, I fight myself, Diana. But if she catches us..." He let the unspoken consequences hang in the air.
Diana leaned closer, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. "We'll be careful. We've been careful."
