---

The rooftop felt different tonight. The air was warmer, the city below a patchwork of glowing lights, and the stars seemed closer than ever. Elara leaned against the ledge, her hair tumbling over her shoulder as she stared into the horizon. For the first time in weeks, she wasn’t burdened by the past. She wasn’t thinking about Liam, the hourglass, or the what-ifs that had consumed her.

She was thinking about Theo.

She felt his presence before she saw him. The soft thud of his sneakers against the rooftop steps, the quiet intake of breath as he stepped into view. He carried his sketchpad, as always, but tonight he didn’t open it. Instead, he walked directly to her, his dark eyes searching hers.

“You’re quiet tonight,” he said, his voice soft and low.

Elara smiled faintly, turning to face him. “Just…thinking.”

“About?”

“You.”

The word hung between them, heavy and electric. Theo tilted his head, his lips curving into a lopsided grin. “Good thoughts, I hope.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t look away. “Very good.”

---

Theo set his sketchpad on the ledge, leaning against it as his gaze lingered on her. “You know, you’re different now,” he said. “Since I met you. Lighter, freer. It’s like you’ve finally figured out how to let go.”

“I have,” she admitted softly. “And it’s because of you.”

His brows furrowed slightly, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. “Me?”

Elara stepped closer, her heart pounding in her chest. “You’ve been there for me, Theo. When everything felt like it was falling apart, you…you held me together. You didn’t have to, but you did.”

He took a step closer, their faces now inches apart. “I didn’t do anything special, Elara. I just saw you for who you are—a girl who’s stronger than she realizes.”

Her breath hitched as his fingers brushed against hers, a touch so light it sent shivers down her spine. She tilted her head up, their eyes locking in a way that made the world around them blur and fade.

“You’re wrong,” she murmured. “You did everything.”

And then, before she could second-guess herself, she closed the gap between them, pressing her lips to his.

---

Theo froze for a moment, as if he hadn’t expected her to be so bold. But then his hands found her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. His lips were soft but insistent, moving against hers with a passion that made her knees weak.

Elara’s hands slid up to his shoulders, her fingers curling into the fabric of his jacket as she pressed herself against him. The rooftop disappeared—the stars, the city, the echoes of her past—all of it melted away until there was nothing left but him.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting together as they tried to steady themselves.

“Wow,” Theo said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Elara laughed, her cheeks flushing. “Was that okay?”

“More than okay,” he replied, his voice rough with emotion. “But if you’re going to kiss me like that, you might need to warn me next time.”

She grinned, running her fingers through his hair. “Where’s the fun in that?”

---

The air between them shifted, growing heavier as Theo’s hands moved up her sides, his touch slow and deliberate. Elara’s breath caught as his fingers brushed the bare skin at her waist, sending a trail of heat wherever they lingered.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this,” he murmured, his lips grazing the curve of her jaw.

Elara tilted her head back, giving him access as her fingers curled into his hair. “Why didn’t you?”

“Because I wasn’t sure you wanted me to,” he admitted, his voice husky.

She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, her hands cupping his face. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I met you, Theo. I just didn’t know it until now.”

His response was a kiss—harder, deeper, and filled with a need that left her breathless. He pressed her against the ledge, his hands exploring her curves with a confidence that sent sparks shooting through her veins.

Elara’s fingers trailed down his chest, memorizing the lines of his body as their kisses grew more heated. She felt the tension in his muscles, the way he trembled slightly under her touch, and it thrilled her to know she had this effect on him.

---

Time became meaningless as they explored each other, their touches growing bolder with every passing second. Theo’s hands slid beneath her shirt, his fingers tracing patterns on her skin that made her shiver. She gasped as his lips moved to her neck, his teeth grazing her pulse point in a way that left her dizzy.

“Theo,” she whispered, her voice trembling with desire.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes dark and filled with an intensity that sent a rush of heat through her. “Tell me if I’m going too fast,” he said, his voice low and rough.

Elara shook her head, pulling him closer. “You’re not.”

Encouraged by her words, Theo’s hands moved to her hips, lifting her onto the ledge so they were at eye level. He stepped between her legs, his hands cradling her face as he kissed her deeply. Elara wrapped her arms around his neck, losing herself in the feel of him—the warmth of his skin, the strength in his touch, the way he made her feel like she was the only thing that mattered.

---

When they finally pulled apart, they were both flushed and breathless, their foreheads connected. Elara realised that this was what she'd always wanted. Not to save Liam, but to find someone that actually made her feel... special.

Can y'all ☆, and comment your opinions on my book please? I'm nearly 16 and I don't mind criticism <3