A note to the reader: this chapter contains a romantic interlude that may not be to everyone's taste. If you prefer to bypass this section, feel free to do so; the narrative will continue to flow seamlessly without it.
A dreamy haze enveloped his gaze, and a soft, almost involuntary sigh escaped his lips. In that fleeting instant, I witnessed the delightful fracture of his determination, as he leaned in to capture my lips with a fervent kiss. His mouth danced along the delicate curve of my neck, lingered on my shoulder, and then, with a tantalizing slowness, he let his kisses wander down my chest, igniting a fire that spread through every fiber of my being.
