Selene's POV
The house was quiet now, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the rustling of trees outside the open window. The night had worn on, but inside, it was as though time slowed to a standstill.
I sat on the couch, tucked into the corner by the window, with Antonio by my side. He had been watching me for a while—his eyes soft but intense, the kind of gaze that made my heart race without him saying a word.
"You know," I began, voice barely above a whisper, "I used to dream about this."
He raised an eyebrow. "This? Us, here?"
I nodded slowly, watching the way the light from the moon pooled around his features, casting a silvery glow that made him seem almost ethereal. "Yeah, just... being close to someone like this. Someone I could be with, completely. No walls. No pretending."
Antonio shifted closer, his fingers brushing mine, sending an electric shiver through me. He tilted his head, studying me with that same intensity, and his voice dropped to a hushed tone. "You don't have to pretend with me, Selene. Not ever."
My breath caught in my throat as his hand cupped the side of my face, his thumb gently caressing the soft skin of my cheek. The warmth of his touch seemed to melt away all the years of uncertainty I had carried with me.
"I've never been good at letting someone in," I confessed, my words almost too quiet to be heard. "But with you… I don't feel like I have to hide."
His lips curved into a soft smile, and there was something in his eyes—an understanding, a deep tenderness. "You don't," he said, his voice low and velvety. "I'll always be here, Selene. No matter what."
Before I could respond, Antonio leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "I've always wanted to kiss you like this," he murmured, his lips brushing lightly against my skin, sending a wave of warmth flooding my chest. His hand slid to the back of my neck, gently pulling me in until I was close enough to feel his heart beating in sync with mine.
The world around us faded into the background. There was only the soft sound of our breaths mingling, the quiet hum of the night, and the undeniable pull between us. I closed my eyes, letting the moment envelop me, before tilting my head slightly to meet him halfway.
His lips found mine with a tenderness that made everything else feel insignificant. The kiss was slow at first, lingering, as if we both were savoring the newness of it. But soon, the pace quickened, the urgency growing as the intensity between us deepened. His hand moved from my neck to my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, and it sent a thrill coursing through me, reminding me of everything we had yet to explore together.
When we finally pulled away, breathless and a little dazed, I rested my forehead against his, eyes still closed. "What if… what if I mess this up?" I whispered.
Antonio chuckled softly, his fingers brushing the hair away from my face. "You won't. We'll figure it out together."
I opened my eyes, staring into his with a mixture of wonder and vulnerability. "I've never been more sure of something in my life."
He smiled again, the warmth in his eyes making me feel like the only person in the world. "Neither have I."
For a long moment, we just stayed there, holding each other in silence. There was no need for words. The connection between us was deeper than anything either of us could explain, a bond that transcended everything we had been through, everything we had yet to face.
And in that moment, I realized that no matter what the future held, we would face it together. With love. With trust. With no more hiding.