The villa hadn't changed.
The curtains still swayed in the breeze.
The floor still creaked near the window.
And the silence?
Still soft.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9EaOoUEpM
Still sacred.
But this time... they had changed.
Celestine stood in the center of the room, barefoot, fingertips trailing the edge of the table where she once questioned everything he was.
Paul entered behind her, slower now, eyes tracing not her body—but her presence.
"You're quiet," she said without turning.
"So are you."
They smiled.
She turned.
Faced him.
"I used to think intimacy was what happened when the lights were off."
Paul walked closer.
"I used to think it only worked when I was in control."
They met in the middle.
No music.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k4tMA7OxZ
No scripts.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQC92WSvHy
No silk.
Just them.
He reached for her hand—familiar now, not hesitant.
"You know," he whispered, "I've memorized a hundred ways to make someone gasp."
Celestine's lips curved. "I know."
He cupped her cheek.
"But you—Celestine Cortez—made me forget every single one of them."
She stepped closer.
Pressed her forehead to his.
"Then maybe," she whispered, "this time... don't touch me to make me feel."
Paul smiled, eyes glassy.
"I won't."
He kissed her—not hard.
Not deep.
Just once.
Still. Gentle. Real.
And then they held each other.
Not because they needed to be saved.
But because they had already survived.
That night, they lay on the same bed.
Fully clothed.
But fully undressed.
Of fear.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5OWtAZtJE
Of shame.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4ENCBlgZN
Of the need to perform.
He whispered into her shoulder,
"I don't need to undress you to feel you.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHnWMkZR34
You undressed me the moment you stayed."
She exhaled—
And finally said the words she had kept locked for far too long:
"And you loved me,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7WYFzLbCu
without ever asking me to be soft first."
The moonlight poured in again.
But this time,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVblvZiunLx
there were no more lessons.
Only love.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOJAmuFMzv
As it always should have been.
Unperformed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmVqPJf5SU
Unspoken.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Pe7yVewhC
Undeniable.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8sDyPMtk6
