The candles flickered in the wind, two dozen of them forming a path up the hill. Valentina followed the light, her heart already racing before she saw him.Duke stood at the overlook, silhouetted against the sunset. His leather jacket was gone—replaced by a black button-down that hugged his shoulders. His dark hair caught the dying light as he turned to face her."You came," he said, voice rough."You said it was important." Valentina stopped a few feet away, suddenly nervous. They'd been together for months now, stable and strong, but something about tonight felt different. Significant.Duke closed the distance between them. His hand cupped her face, thumb tracing her cheekbone. "This is where we first kissed. Remember?""I remember everything about that night." She'd been eighteen, reckless, running from her parents' expectations. Duke had been twenty, already dangerous, already hers."I was terrified," Duke admitted. "Thought you'd disappear if I touched you. Thought you were too g
Last Updated : 2026-02-21 Read more