There was a warmth in Darius’s gaze, a tenderness that made Amara’s heart ache with gratitude. She had been so lost in her fear and doubt, so consumed by the shadows of her past, that she had forgotten just how much love she had in her life. Darius had never wavered in his support, never faltered in his dedication to her, even when she had pushed him away.
“I love you so much,” Amara whispered, the words falling from her lips before she had time to think. She meant them more now than ever before.
Darius’s eyes softened even more at her words, his hand sliding up to cradle her face as he leaned in, brushing his lips gently against hers. “I love you too,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with emotion.
The kiss was soft at first, a slow, deliberate caress that carried with it all the
