I instinctively averted my gaze, feeling exposed under the intensity of his scrutinizing eyes. Henry's gentle caress traced the contours of my face. His touch was both comforting and commanding, compelling me to meet his gaze once more.

For a suspended moment, our eyes locked in a silent exchange. The outside world seemed to fade away. As I gasped for air, the boundaries between the physical and emotional needs blurred. He said we were fated and I agreed with it because we were apart on several occasions but the Moon Goddess always found a way to bring us together.

“What’s bothering you, sweetheart?” he asked as soon as he noticed...