The rain had started just as the lights flickered out, leaving the room wrapped in shadows and the soft rhythm of water against the windows. She stood by the balcony, the breeze teasing the edges of her dress, when she felt him step closer behind her. The air shifted—warmer, heavier, charged with something unspoken.“Cold?” he murmured, his voice low and close to her ear.“Not anymore,” she replied, though her pulse betrayed her calm tone.His hand found hers first, fingers sliding slowly into place, deliberate and sure. He turned her gently, as if she were something precious, and their eyes locked in that quiet space where words became unnecessary. The storm outside seemed distant compared to the electricity humming between them.He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering just a second longer than it needed to. Her breath hitched, and she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. When his lips finally met hers, it wasn’t rushed—it was slow, tasting, exploring, like he had all the time in the world.The thunder rolled again, but inside, the only sound that mattered was the soft sigh that escaped her lips as she pulled him closer.