The penthouse was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, the flickering flames casting long shadows across the walls. The city skyline stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, a sea of twinkling lights that mirrored the heat burning between them.
Mira sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers tracing the edge of the new contract—the one she had rewritten with bold, unapologetic terms. Theo stood in front of her, his shirt unbuttoned, his chest rising and falling with the same restless energy that had been simmering between them all night.
They had spent hours talking—about the past, the future, the way their bodies had always known what their minds had taken too long to admit. But now, there were no more games. No more pretending.
This was real.
Theo reached out, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was gentle, reverent, almost hesitant. “You’re sure?” he murmured.
Mira’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
That was all the invitation Theo needed.
His hands slid into her hair, tilting her face up to his as he captured her mouth in a kiss that was slow, deep, and achingly tender. There was no rush this time—no urgency, no unspoken tension. Just the two of them, finally allowing themselves to feel everything they had been holding back.
Mira melted against him, her hands sliding up his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms. She had kissed him a hundred times before, but this—this was different. This was *real.*
Theo’s hands moved to the hem of her dress, his fingers skimming the soft skin of her thighs as he pushed the fabric up, baring her to him inch by inch. Mira shivered, not from the cold, but from the way his gaze darkened as he took her in.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmured, his voice rough with need.
Mira’s breath hitched as his hands slid higher, his thumbs brushing the lace of her panties. “Theo…”
He didn’t make her wait. In one smooth motion, he lifted her, laying her back against the sheets before settling between her thighs. His mouth found hers again, his kiss deepening as his hands explored her body with a reverence that made her heart ache.
Mira arched into him, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer. She could feel the hard length of him pressing against her, the evidence of his desire impossible to ignore. But this wasn’t just about lust anymore. This was about *love.*
Theo broke the kiss, his forehead resting against hers as he breathed her in. “I love you,” he whispered, the words raw and honest.
Mira’s heart stuttered. She had heard him say it before, but this time, it was different. This time, it wasn’t just a confession—it was a promise.
“I love you too,” she whispered back, her voice trembling with emotion.
Theo’s hands framed her face, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had escaped without her realizing. “Don’t cry, sweetheart,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to each of her eyelids.
Mira laughed softly, her hands sliding down his chest to the waistband of his pants. “I’m not sad,” she said, her fingers working the button free. “I’m just… happy.”
Theo groaned as her hand wrapped around him, his hips jerking forward instinctively. “Fuck, Mira…”
She stroked him slowly, her thumb swirling over the tip, savoring the way his breath hitched. “I want you,” she whispered. “All of you.”
Theo didn’t need to be told twice.
In one swift motion, he rid himself of his pants, kicking them aside before reaching for her panties. Mira lifted her hips, allowing him to slide them down her legs before discarding them somewhere on the floor.
For a moment, they just stared at each other—naked, vulnerable, completely open in a way they had never been before.
Then Theo was on her again, his mouth crashing down on hers as his hands roamed her body with a possessiveness that made her whimper. He kissed her like he was memorizing the taste of her, like he never wanted to forget the way she felt beneath him.
Mira’s hands slid down his back, her nails digging into his skin as she pulled him closer. She could feel the heat of him pressing against her, the thick length of his cock sliding between her folds, teasing her without entering.
“Theo,” she gasped, her hips lifting in silent plea.
He chuckled darkly, his lips trailing down her neck. “Patience, sweetheart.”
Mira groaned in frustration, her fingers tangling in his hair as she tried to pull him back up. “I don’t *want* to be patient.”
Theo’s mouth found her breast, his tongue swirling around her nipple before sucking it into his mouth. Mira arched into him with a cry, her body trembling with need.
“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he murmured against her skin, his hand sliding between her thighs. His fingers found her clit, circling it slowly before dipping lower, teasing her entrance.
Mira’s breath came in short, sharp gasps as he worked her, his touch both maddening and exquisite. “Theo, please…”
He lifted his head, his eyes locking onto hers as he finally—*finally*—pressed the tip of his cock against her. “Tell me again,” he demanded, his voice rough.
Mira didn’t hesitate. “I love you.”
Theo surged forward, filling her in one deep, possessive thrust.
Mira cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders as her body stretched to accommodate him. He was so deep, so *full,* the sensation overwhelming in the best possible way.
Theo stilled, his forehead resting against hers as he gave her a moment to adjust. “You okay?” he murmured.
Mira nodded, her hands sliding down his back to grip his ass. “Move,” she whispered.
Theo groaned, his hips pulling back before thrusting forward again. Mira gasped, her body arching into him as pleasure coiled tight in her belly.
This wasn’t like before—this wasn’t just sex. This was *making love.*
Theo set a slow, deep rhythm, his hands cradling her face as he kissed her with a tenderness that made her heart ache. Mira wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, her body moving in perfect sync with his.
Every thrust sent sparks of pleasure shooting through her, every kiss leaving her breathless. She could feel the tension building, the pressure coiling tighter and tighter until she was teetering on the edge.
“Theo,” she gasped, her nails digging into his skin. “I’m close…”
Theo’s hand slid between them, his thumb finding her clit as he thrust into her harder, faster. “Come for me, sweetheart,” he growled. “Let me feel you.”
Mira’s back arched off the bed as her orgasm crashed over her, her body clenching around him as wave after wave of pleasure ripped through her. Theo groaned, his own release following hers as he buried himself deep inside her, his body trembling with the force of it.
For a long moment, neither of them moved. They just lay there, tangled together, their hearts pounding in sync as they caught their breath.
Theo finally lifted his head, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I love you,” he murmured, his voice soft.
Mira smiled, her hand cupping his cheek. “I love you too.”
Theo rolled onto his side, pulling her with him so that she was curled against his chest. Mira rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his skin.
“What now?” she asked softly.
Theo pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Now,” he said, his voice filled with promise, “we live.”
Mira smiled, her heart full.
This wasn’t the end.
It was only the beginning.