Lucas' POV
I held her close, my hands instinctively sliding over the damp, smooth surface of her skin. Every curve under my fingertips, every delicate line, felt like it was carved into memory, a sensation I knew I would carry with me. The water trailed down her shoulders, tracing paths along her back as I pressed her closer, feeling her heartbeat fluttering against my chest. It was like she was all that mattered in that moment—just Elara and me, our world narrowed to the soft hiss of water and the sensation of her in my arms.
As I leaned in, our breaths mingled, her lips parted, meeting mine with a softness that nearly undid me. The warmth of her mouth tasted faintly sweet, the water carrying the essence of her, fresh and perfect. My hands slid to her waist, pulling her as close as possible, every inch of her pressing into me, feeling fragile, like something rare and precious I had the responsibility to protect.