396: Beyond Words

ARIEL'S POV Luke caught me before I landed on the ground, and I found myself enveloped in his strong, reassuring embrace. Our eyes locked in a moment of pure connection, the chaos of the spilled dinner forgotten as we gazed deeply into each other's souls. In the fleeting instant, time seemed to stand still as the world around us faded into the background, leaving only Luke and me suspended in a silent exchange of emotions. His warm breath brushed against my cheek, sending convulsions down my spine as I tightened my grip around his neck, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest. There was something undeniably magnetic about the way our gazes held as if we were communicating without words, sharing our hopes, fears, and dreams with nothing but the unspoken language of our hearts. In Luke's eyes, I saw a depth of understanding and compassion that spoke volumes, reassuring me that we would face challenges together no matter what challenges lay ahead. The seconds tick