A small happy sound had escaped from between Valeria's lips as Ari pressed his own against them. Soft and warm, and unlike anything else the man had ever known. How long had it really been since they'd been close like this? Three, four, five months? Long enough to feel like a lifetime between then and now. Long enough for more things to have transpired than Ari could keep track of, and yet, despite it all, here they were. Together.
The arm wrapped around Valeria's shoulders drew her in closer. His other hand reached up and brushed back a strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear before pausing to cup her head. A thumb caressed her cheek as Ari pulled back for just a moment, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. "So..." the man murmured as he stroked Valeria's cheek. "Was that chocolate ice cream worth it?"