The gala lights had barely faded from their eyes when Ethan guided Aria into the back of the waiting town car.
The moment the door closed, the city noise softened to a distant hum. He didn’t speak at first. He simply reached across the leather seat, took her hand, and brought it to his lips, pressing a slow kiss to each knuckle.
Aria watched him, the streetlights painting shifting gold across his face. “You were perfect tonight,” she said quietly. “Every touch, every look… it felt real even when we were performing.”
“It was real.” His thumb traced the inside of her wrist, gentle circles that sent warmth up her arm. “The performance was just the frame. The rest of it… that’s us.”
She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. The car moved smoothly through the quiet streets. Hi
