Summer kills

Ethan pulled back slightly to look at Olivia. Her eyes held a softness that he hadn't seen in a while, a vulnerability that she allowed only him to witness. It pulled at his heartstrings, making him realize just how much he'd missed her - missed them. "You're beautiful," he murmured softly, his fingers tracing the outline of her face. The words were simple but held so much weight. It was a testament to all that they had endured, to the love that still remained despite the trials they had faced. Olivia blushed at his compliment, ducking her head slightly. "So are you," she quipped back playfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief and love. It was a sight

that set Ethan's heart aflame; a sight that was all too familiar, yet one he had longed to see again.

He chuckled at her response, a sound that echoed warmth and intimacy in the quiet room. "I meant it," he said, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. His eyes held hers captive - intense, sincere, loving - daring her to look away. But she didn't, because she couldn't. And she didn't want to.

"I know," Olivia admitted softly, her voice barely a whisper. Her fingers wound themselves into his shirt as if they sought something to hold onto. "And I meant it too."

Something in Ethan's chest tightened at her words. It was as if a dam had broken within him, unleashing a torrent of emotions that he'd held back for far too long. He pulled her closer, reducing any lingering space between them until their bodies were flush against each other.

For a few heartbeats, they simply stood there

wordlessly absorbing the warmth and familiarity of each other's presence. Ethan could hear Olivia's steady heartbeat against his chest, a gentle rhythm that was soothing in its consistency. He tangled his hands in her hair, fingertips grazing the nape of her neck, causing her to sigh softly.

"Ethan," she whispered his name like a prayer, sending a shiver down his spine. Her breath hitched as she lifted her eyes to meet his once more. The raw emotion in her gaze mirrored his own - a tumultuous sea of longing and affection. "Olivia," he murmured in response, the syllables rolling off his tongue as naturally as breathing. His thumb brushed against her lower lip, causing her to break into a radiant smile. This was their moment, a culmination of years of unspoken feelings and missed opportunities. And they were ready to seize it.

Suddenly overcome by an overwhelming surge of emotion, Ethan cupped Olivia's face in his hands, leaning down to meet her lips with his own. It was a kiss filled with all the tenderness and love he had been holding back for years. Olivia responded eagerly, clutching the fabric of his shirt as she lost herself in the searing intensity of their connection.

Pulling away slightly after what felt like an eternity, Ethan gazed into Olivia's eyes with newfound intensity. "I want this," he confessed quietly, placing a gentle hand over her heart. "I want us."

Her answer was immediate and unwavering. "So do I," Olivia affirmed softly, laying her hand on top of his own over her heart - a gesture symbolizing shared commitment, acceptance, and unity.

He held her even closer then, if that was possible - their bodies melding together as if they were two puzzle pieces finally finding their rightful places. Their past mistakes and regrets faded into insignificance as they surrendered to this moment, surrendering to the love that had always been simmering between them.

"So it begins," Ethan whispered into her ear, his voice thick with emotion as he held her close. "Our new beginning..."

"Yes," she agreed, leaning her head on his chest and closing her eyes, "our new beginning."

For the first time in years, they stood together, not as two individuals nursing their individual hurts and regrets, but as a couple ready to face whatever life threw at them. It was a new chapter, the start of a journey filled with hope and promises. And as they both knew all too well, beginnings were often the most thrilling part of any story.

The moon hung high in the velvet sky, bathing them in its soft silver light. Olivia nestled into Ethan's embrace, comfortable in the silent understanding shared between them. This was neither an end nor a beginning but rather a continuation of all that had transpired between them.

For Ethan, every inch of Olivia- from her tousled hair cascading down her back to the way her fingertips lightly traced patterns across his chest-became an intimate testament of their shared history and future. Every breath she took, he could feel it against his own chest, syncopated with his heartbeat in a rhythm that was quintessentially theirs.

"Ethan," Olivia murm

began in a whisper, her voice quivering slightly, "Do you remember the first time we met?"

He hummed softly, his fingers lightly tracing her arm as if it were the most delicate piece of art. "How could I forget?" he replied, his voice catching on a soft chuckle. "It was at

that crowded farmer's market, in the sweltering heat of summer. I nearly knocked over a crate of apples trying to get to you."

A soft laugh escaped Olivia at the memory. "And I ended up helping you pick them all up even though I was just as startled as you were."

"Yes," Ethan agreed with a

warm smile, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. "And as we stood there, in the middle of that chaos, I couldn't help but notice the soft light in your eyes and the way your lips lifted into a shy smile. It was as if every cell in my body screamed at me, knowing you were... special

"Something like fate, wouldn't you agree?" Olivia murmured, tilting her head upwards to meet his gaze. The moonlight reflected off her eyes, making them shine with an ethereal glow.