"Forgive me, Bruce. Let me give you a proper farewell this time."
She leaned up, and their mouths met.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't hungry.
It was slow, deep, the kind of kiss meant to linger long after lips part.
Sophie's fingers slid gently up the line of his neck, settling at his jaw. Bruce's hand rose to cradle the back of her head, holding her close as if he wanted the moment to live just a little longer. Their lips moved with quiet intensity, savoring every second, breaths shared, warmth traded, a closeness that said more than either of them had ever dared speak aloud.
The cool evening breeze drifted through their hair as they kissed, carrying the scent of distant night blossoms and stone still warm from daylight. For a suspended heartbeat, the world felt very small, just the two of them, balanced between parting and longing.
