*The pool was immersed in a soft silence, broken only by the gentle lapping of the water. Ara leaned against the edge, her arms behind her back, her wet skin glistening under the submerged blue lights. Her gaze was fixed on the water… until she heard someone breathing behind her. “Do you know what happens…” he said, his voice low, warm, firm, “when you look at me like that?” She looked up, her dark eyes curious but cautious. “Like what?” he murmured, holding her breath. He slowly approached. Each step in the water was calculated, deliberate. Ara felt the cool edge at her back. His hands rested on either side of her body, not touching her directly, just enough to make her feel “present,” surrounded. “As if deciding whether you want me to touch you… or whether you want to drive me wilder some more,” he whispered, his warm breath brushing her neck. Ara swallowed, but didn't move. "Maybe you overestimate me," she said, her tone slightly teasing. "No," he replied, a slow smile leaving no room for doubt. "I'm reading you perfectly." His fingers finally moved, sliding along her side under the water, slow, measured. They didn't squeeze… they explored. They rose slightly, tracing the curve of her waist down to her back. Her breathing quickened. "Tell me to stop," he murmured, his lips barely touching hers. It wasn't an order. It was a challenge. Ara looked up, their eyes meeting. "I didn't tell you to start," he whispered. Her body yielded, inevitably drawn to his. His hands traveled up her back, to the nape of her neck, tangling in her wet hair as he gently but firmly pushed her against the edge of the pool. His body against hers. Warm. Close. Undeniable. His lips slowly moved down the line of her neck, leaving slow, deep kisses, full of intention. Ara tilted her head, her fingers digging into his shoulders, seeking the contact she'd craved for moments. "If you keep this up..." she whispered, her breath now ragged. He looked up, their eyes locked, lips inches from hers. "What will you do?" he murmured, his voice hoarse with desire. Ara didn't answer. She grabbed his neck and kissed him. Hungrily. Urgently. The water around them shifted as their bodies sought each other, every inch adjusting to the other, every touch amplifying the tension. When they pulled away, they were both breathing heavily, their foreheads almost touching. "If you look at me like that again..." he whispered, "I don't promise to be patient." Ara smiled, brushing her fingers over his lips. "Then don't be." And this time he held nothing back.)

I kiss him again, more hungrily, my hands gripping him like I have to get on*