BECAUSE I MISS YOU

sheets and the two entwined bodies upon the bed. Estrella stirred, her eyelashes fluttering

arp lines of his jaw, the way his dark lashes cast delicate shadows upon his cheeks. Gently, she reached o

lazy smile spreading across his lips. "Good morning, my

sist leaning in to press a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. "Good morning,

his embrace. There was a sense of security, of belonging, that she hadn't felt in a long tim

gers tracing idle patterns

mitted. "I know this... this thing between us is unexpected, but I can't

feel it too," he murmured, his gaze locking

ser to him, her body molding against his. "Neither do I," s

m once more. Estrella lost herself in the sensations, her fingers tangl

are, a sudden knock at the door shattered the momen

ay from Estrella's embrace. "Stay here," he murmured,

heart pounding in her chest. Who could it be, and what did they want? The

d. Estrella strained to hear the muffled voices, but she could on

Estrella felt a knot of dread form in the pit of her stomach as he

sked, her voice bar

ugh his disheveled hair. "It seems there's been... a develo

s gently tracing the line of his

ure of regret and... something else. "I'm not who you thin

scenarios flashing through her mind. "What do yo

ust a man you met in a hotel bar," he said, his eyes searching her face. "I'm... I'm

g with the implications of his revelation. "An undercov

you sooner, but I... I didn't want to jeopardize our connection. I've been d

nfusion, and a twinge of betrayal. But beneath it all, she coul

us?" she asked, her voi

ow," he admitted. "But I do know that I can't bear the thought of losing you, Estrella. Y

d hope. She knew that their path ahead would be fraught with challenges, b

tracing the contours of his face. "Then we'll face it togethe

d across his lips. He pulled her into a fierce embrace

ection they shared – a bond that had been forged in the flames of their forbidden de

y giving way to a sense of purpose and belonging. She accompanied him to various meetings and events, her

of it all. The adrenaline rush, the sense of adventure, and the unbreakable bond she shared with Pav

la couldn't resist the urge to reach out and take Pavert's hand. He glanced dow

Estrella asked, her voi

ing to rest on the small of her back. "I'm thinking about how lucky

emotions. "And I'm thinking about how much I've come to care for you,

inst hers in a featherlight caress. "Estrella," he whispered, his bre

, her lips meeting his in a tender, lingering kiss. The world around them faded

feel a sense of wonder. This was no longer just a chance encounter, a fleeting m

tracing the contours of his face, "I

, and then a brillian