𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟽: 𝙻𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝙴𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝙾𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛

---
The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft

shadows across the room as Darius and Elara lay

together, their bodies entwined beneath the sheets. The

intensity of their earlier passion had settled into

something quieter, but no less powerful.

Darius lay on his side, propped up on one elbow as he

gazed down at Elara. His fingers traced lazy patterns

across her bare shoulder, the simple touch sending

sparks of warmth through her body.

Elara turned her head to look up at him, her lips curving

into a soft smile. "What?" she asked quietly, a playful

edge to her voice.

Darius's lips twitched in response, his thumb gently

brushing her cheek. "I'm just... thinking."

"About?"

He leaned down, pressing a feather-light kiss to her

forehead. "How lucky I am to have you."

Elara's heart fluttered at the tenderness in his voice. She

had never seen this side of Darius-the man who had

once been so guarded, so distant, now lay beside her, his

walls completely down. She reached up, cupping his face

with her hand.

"I'm the lucky one," she whispered, her voice filled with

sincerity.

Darius didn't respond with words. Instead, he leaned

down and captured her lips in another kiss-this one

slow and languid, as if they had all the time in the

world. Their bodies moved together, in perfect sync, as

they savored the closeness, the intimacy that had grown

between them.

---