HEART BEAT

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

---
**CHAPTER 16**

The soft glow of the dying fire cast long shadows across the cozy cottage, wrapping Kira and Alex in a warm embrace as they lay together on the couch. The kitten had long since fallen asleep, curled up on a cushion nearby, leaving the newlyweds in their own little world.

Kira shifted slightly, turning to look up at Alex. His arm was wrapped around her, his fingers tracing slow, soothing patterns on her shoulder. The tenderness in his touch made her heart swell, reminding her of how deeply she loved him, how much she had always loved him.

"Alex," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet of the room.

He looked down at her, his eyes soft and filled with a mixture of love and desire. "Yes?"

Kira smiled, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair away from his forehead. "I feel like I'm dreaming. This day... everything... it's all been so perfect."

Alex's lips curved into a gentle smile as he leaned in to press a kiss to her forehead. "You're not dreaming, Kira. This is real. We're married."

The word "married" sent a thrill through her, a reminder of the promises they had made just hours earlier. It was a word that held so much meaning, so much promise for the future.

"I love hearing you say that," Kira murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

Alex tightened his hold on her, his hand sliding down to rest on the small of her back. "I love saying it. And I love you, Kira. So much."

There was a pause, a moment of stillness as they looked at each other, their eyes locked in a gaze that spoke volumes. The air between them was charged with a quiet intensity, a deep, unspoken understanding of what was about to happen.

Kira leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a kiss that was soft and slow, filled with all the love she felt for him. Alex responded in kind, his hand sliding up to cup her face as he deepened the kiss, his lips moving against hers with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

The kiss grew more intense, more urgent, as the seconds passed. Kira's fingers tangled in Alex's hair, pulling him closer as she lost herself in the feel of his mouth on hers. The warmth of his body pressed against hers, the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm, all combined to create a sense of closeness that was almost overwhelming.

Alex shifted, pulling Kira onto his lap so that she was straddling him. The movement brought them even closer together, and Kira let out a soft gasp as she felt the heat of his body through the thin fabric of her dress. The sound seemed to ignite something in Alex, and he kissed her more fervently, his hands sliding down to grip her hips as he held her firmly against him.

Kira's mind was spinning, her thoughts a jumbled mess of desire and love and need. She wanted him, wanted to feel him in every way possible, to be as close to him as she could. She had never felt this kind of intensity before, this burning need to be with him, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying.

But beneath it all was a deep sense of trust, a knowledge that Alex would never hurt her, would always be there to hold her, to love her. That trust was what gave her the courage to let go, to give in to the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm her.

"Alex," she whispered against his lips, her voice trembling with anticipation.

He pulled back slightly, his breathing heavy as he looked at her. "Kira... are you sure?"

She nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of desire and love. "Yes. I'm sure."

With that, Alex stood, lifting her in his arms as if she weighed nothing. Kira let out a soft laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her to the bedroom. The room was lit only by the soft glow of the moonlight streaming in through the window, casting a silvery light over the bed.

Alex set her down gently, his eyes never leaving hers as he began to undress her. There was something almost reverent in the way he removed each piece of clothing, his touch gentle and full of love. Kira felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine as his hands skimmed over her skin, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake.

When she was finally bare before him, Alex paused, his gaze roaming over her body with a look of awe and adoration. "You're beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "So beautiful."

Kira felt a blush rise to her cheeks at his words, but there was no shyness in her as she reached out to pull him closer. She wanted to feel his skin against hers, to lose herself in the warmth and strength of his embrace.

They came together slowly, their movements unhurried as they explored each other with a tenderness that spoke of their deep love and connection. There was no rush, no urgency-just a quiet, almost sacred intimacy that bound them together in a way that words could never fully capture.

As they lay together afterward, their bodies entwined, Kira felt a deep sense of contentment settle over her. She was exactly where she was meant to be, with the man she loved more than anything in the world. The future stretched out before them, full of endless possibilities, but in this moment, all that mattered was the love they shared.

Alex pressed a soft kiss to her temple, his voice a gentle whisper in the darkness. "I love you, Kira."

Kira smiled, her heart swelling with emotion as she snuggled closer to him. "I love you too, Alex. Always."

They drifted off to sleep in each other's arms, the world outside fading away as they held on to the love that had brought them to this moment. It was a love that would carry them through whatever challenges lay ahead, a love that would only grow stronger with time.

And as the night wore on, the soft sounds of their breathing mingling in the quiet of the room, Kira knew, without a doubt, that she had found her forever in Alex.