The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft golden light over the ocean waves. The breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, and laughter echoed across the sands where everyone was unwinding.

Aria found herself sitting on a blanket near the edge of the water, Leo plopping down beside her with a mischievous grin on his face.

"You look way too serious for a beach day," Leo teased, nudging her with his elbow.

Aria stuck out her tongue. "I’m relaxing in my own way."

Without warning, Leo pounced, his fingers digging into her sides. Aria shrieked with laughter, trying to squirm away, but Leo was merciless, his hands expertly finding every ticklish spot.

"Leo! Stop!" she gasped between fits of giggles, trying to fight him off.

But instead of fleeing, Aria turned the tables. With a burst of energy, she tackled him, straddling his lap and launching a counterattack of her own. She dug her fingers into his sides, and now it was Leo's turn to squirm and laugh helplessly under her touch.

"Okay, okay! Mercy!" he cried out, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

Their laughter mingled with the sound of the ocean, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.Leo’s laughter faded as his eyes locked onto hers. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

Then, without thinking, Leo cupped her face in his hands and pulled her down into a kiss.

It was soft at first tentative. But the moment Aria felt the warmth of his lips, something inside her snapped.

She kissed him back  not gently, but fiercely, like she had been waiting forever for this. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss without hesitation. She pressed herself against him, her fingers tangling in his hair as she poured every buried feeling into that kiss.

Leo let out a low, surprised sound in the back of his throat but quickly matched her intensity, holding her tightly by the waist, anchoring her to him.

Aria kissed him like there was no tomorrow, her heart pounding so loud she could barely hear anything else. When she tilted her head and brushed her tongue teasingly against his bottom lip, Leo shuddered beneath her touch, a soft moan escaping him.

They kissed with the desperate energy of two people who had been denying their feelings for too long, lost completely in each other.

Finally, breathless, they broke apart, foreheads touching, both gasping for air. Leo’s thumb gently brushed her cheek, his voice rough and low:

"I've wanted this for so long," he murmured.

Aria, cheeks flushed and chest heaving, smiled  a real, unguarded smile.

"Me too," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Around them, the world faded away  the golden sunset, the ocean waves—all of it disappeared.

In that moment, it was only them, hearts beating wildly in sync.