The mansion was dark except for the dim glow of the living room lamp. Sera stepped inside quietly, the weight of the day pressing down on her. Nathan's confession replayed in her mind, but it was Ryou's lingering shadow in her heart that pulled her thoughts into a whirlpool.
As she closed the door and turned around, her breath caught. Ryou stood there, waiting for her, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. His presence was like gravity—impossible to ignore, pulling her toward him even when she tried to resist.
"Ryou," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're here..."
"I wanted to see you," he said simply, his voice low and steady, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his inner turmoil.
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. She hadn't expected to see him again so soon—or at all before she moved. "I thought..." she began, then trailed off, unsure how to finish.
"Are you really going to leave?" Ryou asked, his gaze unwavering, though his voice softened in a way that made her chest tighten.
Sera swallowed hard and nodded. "I'll start packing tonight. I'll move tomorrow."
The words felt final, settling between them like an insurmountable wall. But then, as if compelled by something beyond his control, Ryou reached out and took her hand.
Sera froze, her eyes widening in surprise. His touch was warm, steady, and it sent a jolt through her entire body.
Even Ryou seemed stunned by his own actions. He stared down at their joined hands for a moment before his grip tightened slightly, as though he couldn't bear to let go.
"Ryou?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
He didn't respond. Instead, he stepped closer, still holding her hand. Sera instinctively stepped back, her movements halting only when her back pressed against the front door.
The tension between them thickened. His golden eyes bore into hers, their intensity sending a shiver down her spine.
Ryou lifted his free hand, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. He lingered, tracing the curve of her cheek so lightly it was as if he were afraid she might vanish if he pressed too hard.
"You don't have to go," he murmured, his voice barely audible. It wasn't a command, but a plea—quiet and broken, as though the thought of her leaving was more than he could endure.
Sera's lips parted, her breath shallow as her eyes searched his. "Ryou—"
Before she could finish, he leaned in, closing the space between them. His lips captured hers in a rush of warmth and desperation, as though he had been holding back an ocean of emotions and could no longer contain them.
The kiss was soft at first, almost tentative, but it quickly grew deeper, his hand tightening around hers as if anchoring himself to her. His other hand moved to the nape of her neck, his touch firm but gentle as he pulled her closer, tilting her head to deepen the connection.
Sera's mind spun, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. The world around them faded into nothingness, leaving only the feel of his lips against hers, the heat of his touch, and the intensity of the emotions coursing through them.
Her free hand instinctively rested on his chest, and she felt the rapid, unsteady beat of his heart beneath her palm. It matched the frantic rhythm of her own.
Ryou felt her touch, and something inside him broke. The restraint he had clung to so tightly shattered, replaced by a need so raw and profound it made his chest ache. He let go of her hand, his arm moving to encircle her waist, pulling her flush against him.
His lips moved against hers with growing fervor, his breaths mingling with hers as he kissed her again and again, as if trying to make up for every moment he had denied himself this closeness. His hand at her waist pressed her closer, his thumb brushing over the curve of her hip with a touch that was both possessive and reverent.
Sera gasped softly, her fingers curling against his chest as her knees threatened to give way beneath her. She leaned into him, letting his strength steady her. Her other hand slid to his shoulder, her fingers brushing over the taut lines of muscle there, grounding herself in his warmth.
Ryou broke the kiss briefly, his forehead resting against hers as they both caught their breath. His golden eyes burned with emotion as he looked down at her, his thumb brushing over her cheek in a slow, reverent caress.
"I shouldn't be doing this," he murmured, his voice rough with guilt and longing. "But I... I don't want to let you go."
Sera reached up, her hand trembling slightly as she touched his face, her fingers brushing over the sharp line of his jaw. "Then don't," she whispered, her voice steady despite the trembling in her chest.
Her words undid him. He kissed her again, slower this time but no less intense. His hand slid from her waist to the small of her back, his fingers spreading against her as if needing to feel every inch of her he could reach.
His lips left hers, trailing softly along the corner of her mouth, her cheek, and down to her jawline. He pressed lingering kisses there, his breath warm against her skin. His hand cradled her face, his thumb brushing tenderly along her temple as if memorizing every detail of her.
Sera's eyes fluttered closed, her head tilting slightly to give him more access. A quiet sigh escaped her lips, and she felt the tension in his grip—the battle between his desire and the restraint he was barely holding onto.
She didn't pull away. Instead, her fingers slid up to tangle gently in his hair, her touch soft and deliberate.
Ryou let out a low, almost inaudible groan at her touch, his control slipping further. He pressed another kiss to her lips, deeper and more consuming than before. His hand slid from her face to her shoulder, then down her arm, his touch slow and deliberate, as though savoring the moment.
Time seemed to stretch, the space between them erased entirely as they lost themselves in each other. The walls he had built around his heart crumbled, leaving nothing but the raw, unguarded truth of his emotions. For the first time, Ryou allowed himself to feel completely—to want her, to hold her, to dive into her.