Elizabeth set her teacup down and looked at me with half-lidded eyes.
"You're staring again," she murmured, a faint smile playing on her lips.
---
As evening deepened, the lanterns in the pavilion were lit, casting a soft, intimate glow. Elizabeth had moved even closer. She was practically in my lap now, her robe barely clinging to her shoulders. One of her hands rested on my chest, feeling my heartbeat, while the other continued its slow exploration of my thigh.
I leaned in and kissed her again. This time the kiss lasted longer. Deeper. Our lips moved together unhurriedly, savoring each other. When we parted, her breathing had grown slightly heavier.
She rested her forehead against mine, eyes closed.
"I love these moments with you," she whispered. "Just you and me… no one else."
