The Road Back to You

By the time they arrived, the car came to a slow halt in front of a breathtaking house surrounded by tall trees and a view of the distant mountains. Violet's eyes widened as she stepped out, her breath catching in her throat.

"Ethan..." she whispered, turning to him. "This is unreal."

"I wanted you to love it," Ethan watched her reaction with a satisfied expression. 

"I do love it!" She spun in place, taking it all in. "It's beautiful. Perfect."

"Good. Because for the next month, this is ours. Just you and me," he reached for her hand, pulling her close. 

The days that followed were nothing short of magical. They cooked together in the kitchen, sharing soft laughter as Ethan tried (and failed) to crack an egg properly. They painted together, Violet smudging paint onto his cheek just to see his exasperated reaction. Ethan stole kisses from her whenever he had the chance. And at night, they curled up together, talking for hours about everything and nothing.

Their kisses turned deeper, more desperate. Ethan's hands roamed over her body with reverence, as if memorizing every curve, every dip.

"You're everything to me, Violet. I don't want to hold back anymore," He whispered against her lips.

"Then don't," Violet felt her heart stutter, her fingers clutching at his shirt. 

That night, they gave themselves to each other completely. It wasn't just passion, it was emotion, devotion, and love pouring into every touch, every kiss. They moved together as if the universe had only ever meant for them to be in this moment, wrapped up in each other, their bodies and souls intertwining under the soft glow of the moon.

Ethan held her close afterward. He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, his voice low and almost broken.

"I love you, Violet."

"I love you too, Ethan," she smiled, pressing her lips to his chest. 

The days passed in a blur of stolen kisses, shared laughter, and whispered confessions. Every morning, Ethan surprised Violet with fresh flowers, and every evening, they sat together, watching the sunset paint the sky in hues of gold and crimson. It was as if time had stopped for them, giving them a world of their own, untouched by the chaos they had left behind.

But tonight was different. Tonight, something lingered in the air, something unspoken, something heavy.

Violet stood by the window, staring at the moonlight casting silver streaks over the wooden floors. She felt Ethan's presence before she heard him. He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her close. His warmth seeped into her, making her close her eyes for a moment, savoring the way he held her.

"What are you thinking about?" he murmured against her ear, his lips brushing lightly over her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

"That this feels too perfect. Like a dream I never want to wake up from," she sighed, leaning into him. 

Ethan turned her around to face him, his gaze intense, as if he was memorizing every detail of her face. He cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing soft circles against her skin. "Then don't wake up," he whispered. "Stay here. With me."

Violet smiled, but there was something unreadable in his expression. Before she could ask, Ethan kissed her... slowly at first, then deeper, more desperate. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to their bed, their lips never parting. As their bodies pressed together, every touch, every caress, spoke of emotions neither of them could fully voice.

Their clothes melted away, leaving nothing between them but raw vulnerability. Ethan worshipped her, his hands mapping every inch of her skin, as if engraving her into his memory. And Violet gave herself to him completely, surrendering to the intensity of his love.

Afterwards, as they lay entangled in each other, Ethan brushed his fingers through her hair, watching her drift off to sleep. But sleep never came for him. Instead, he watched her with a quiet ache in his chest.

She was his light, his happiness... his everything. And that terrified him. Because love, as beautiful as it was, demanded too much. And he wasn't sure if he could ever be enough for her.