The walk back to the villa was quieter than before.
Not uncomfortable.
Not distant.
Just… different.
The night air was soft against their skin, the sound of the ocean steady in the background. Leah's hand remained in Izana's, their fingers intertwined—but his grip hadn't loosened.
Not even once.
Leah noticed.
Of course she did.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her expression soft, thoughtful.
"You're still thinking about it," she said gently.
Izana didn't respond immediately.
His gaze stayed forward.
"…Yes."
No denial.
No deflection.
Just truth.
Leah's lips curved slightly.
"I figured."
A few more steps passed in silence.
Then she added, a little lighter,
"You scared them, you know," she said again.
"I did not."
"You did."
"I don't want them touching what's mine."
Leah let out a small laugh.
"Still possessive Iz."
Izana exhaled quietly.
But his grip tightened just slightly again.
Leah felt it.
She didn't pull away.
Instead—
She squeezed his hand back.
A quiet reassurance.
"Izana," she said softly, "they don't matter."
His steps slowed.
Just a fraction.
But he didn't stop.
"I know."
A pause.
"But I didn't like it."
Leah looked at him now.
Fully.
"…I know."
And she meant it.
They reached the villa soon after.
The door closed behind them with a soft click.
Silence filled the room instantly.
Warm.
Private.
Sealed away from everything outside.
Leah barely had time to take a breath before—
"Izana—. "
The world shifted.
In one smooth movement—
He lifted her.
Bridal style.
Leah gasped softly, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders.
"Izana—!"
But there was no protest in her voice.
Only surprise.
And something softer beneath it.
Her arms slid around his neck naturally, holding onto him as he carried her deeper into the room.
"You shouldn't walk away from me like that," he said quietly.
His voice wasn't harsh.
Not angry.
Just… low.
Leah blinked at him.
"I wasn't—. "
"You were."
A pause.
Then softer—
"They were looking at you."
Leah's breath caught slightly.
Oh.
So that was it.
Her expression softened.
"…Izana."
He didn't stop walking until they reached the bed.
Then—
He laid her down.
Careful.
But firm.
Leah sank into the mattress, her hair spreading slightly beneath her.
And before she could fully sit up—
Izana was already there.
Leaning over her.
One arm braced beside her.
Close.
Too close.
Her heart skipped.
Not from fear.
Never that.
From him.
From the intensity in his gaze.
"You're still jealous," she whispered.
Izana didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
The honesty made her chest tighten.
Her lips curved faintly.
"You're admitting it now?"
"I'm not hiding it."
Leah let out a small breath.
Then reached up—
Her fingers brushing lightly against his cheek.
Grounding him.
"Izana… they don't matter."
His gaze didn't waver.
"I know."
A pause.
"But you do."
Her breath hitched.
Just slightly.
The room felt smaller.
Warmer.
Quieter.
Leah's thumb moved gently against his skin.
"I only see you," she said softly.
His expression shifted.
Barely.
But she saw it.
"I chose you."
Silence.
Deep.
Real.
Then—
Izana leaned down.
Slowly.
Closing the space between them.
His forehead pressed lightly against hers.
Their breaths mixed.
Warm.
Uneven.
And for a moment—
He just stayed there.
Like he needed it.
Like he needed her.
"…Leah."
Her name left him quietly.
Not controlled.
Not distant.
Just… his.
Leah didn't pull away.
Didn't move.
"I'm here," she whispered.
That was all it took.
His lips found hers.
Slow at first.
Careful.
But not distant.
Not this time.
There was something deeper in it.
Something heavier.
Something that hadn't been there before.
Leah responded instantly, her fingers curling lightly into his shirt as she kissed him back.
The kiss deepened.
Not rushed.
Not overwhelming.
Just… certain.
His hand moved from the bed to her waist, holding her there like he needed to feel that she was real.
That she was still here.
Leah shifted slightly beneath him, her other hand moving to his collar, loosening it without even thinking.
Her breath mixed with his.
Soft.
Warm.
Close.
The world outside disappeared again.
Just like before.
Just like it always did with him.
Then—
Izana paused.
Just slightly.
Pulling back just enough to look at her.
Really look at her.
His hand moved up, brushing gently against her cheek.
"…Leah."
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
She understood.
She always did.
Her hand lifted, covering his where it rested against her face.
Her gaze softened.
"You don't have to ask," she said quietly.
A small pause.
Then, softer—
"I'm yours."
Something in his expression broke.
Not in a bad way.
In a way that made him look… human.
Vulnerable.
For just a second.
Then he leaned down again.
This time—
The kiss wasn't hesitant.
It was deeper.
Warmer.
More certain.
Leah's breath caught as she kissed him back, her fingers gripping his shirt slightly as she pulled him closer.
His hand tightened at her waist.
Not rough.
Just… there.
Grounding.
Holding.
The air between them grew heavier.
Warmer.
Every movement slower.
More intentional.
Leah's hand moved from his shirt to his neck, her fingers brushing lightly against his skin, feeling the warmth, the steady pulse beneath.
Izana shifted slightly, adjusting over her—
Careful.
Always careful.
Even now.
Especially now.
His lips moved from hers briefly—
Brushing against her jaw.
Then her neck.
Soft.
Not rushed.
Leah's breath hitched quietly.
Her hand tightened slightly against him.
"Izana…"
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
He stilled for just a moment.
Just enough to hear it.
To feel it.
Then his forehead pressed lightly against her shoulder, his breath warm against her skin.
"…You're mine."
Not controlling.
Not possessive in a way that trapped.
But in a way that meant—
He chose her.
And she chose him.
Leah's fingers softened against his skin.
"And you're mine," she whispered back.
Silence wrapped around them again.
But this time—
It wasn't still.
It moved.
Slowly.
Gently.
Like everything between them.
Izana lifted his head slightly, his gaze meeting hers one last time.
Checking.
Always checking.
Leah nodded softly.
A small smile touching her lips.
"I'm not going anywhere."
That was enough.
More than enough.
He kissed her again—
And this time—
There was no hesitation left.
The world outside faded completely.
The ocean.
The night.
The distance.
Everything disappeared.
Until there was nothing left but them.
And the quiet promise they kept making—
Without words.
Without doubt.
Together.
—
And the rest—
Was theirs alone.
The night wrapping around them.
Soft.
Endless.
Unseen.
As everything else faded gently into darkness.