She began to return his kisses, starting from his chin and gradually moving down. Suddenly, Leonel grasped her black hair and muttered with a rough voice, "Alexis?"

Her voice was equally hoarse in the quiet of the night.

“Isn't this what you've always wanted?" she whispered.

“Leonel... Stay still... Relax, and I promise you'll enjoy this."

Gradually, their clothes dropped to the floor and they made love to each other deep into the night.

It was hours later when they finished.

Exhausted and content, they lay together on the spacious bed, too tired to move a muscle.

Leonel said after a while, "Should I help you to the shower?"

Alexis turned her back to him and clutched the sheets.

"Shower? No way! I'm completely spent! Leonel, are you even human?"

His endurance was extraordinary!

He always begged her to torment him and by the end, transformed into something wild.

With a soft chuckle, Leonel brushed his lips against her shoulder.

“I'll go freshen up then."

Alexis closed her eyes. She didn't feel like uttering even one more word.

After his shower, Leonel tended to the marks on his face. Alexis had made them look too gruesome, as if he had been domestically abused for a long time.

Feeling wide awake now, he stood in his high-rise apartment and poured himself a glass of red wine which he took his time to enjoy.

He thought of the person he desired who was now in his bedroom.

He'd left her behind yet he couldn't forget her over the years. He sensed Alexis’ wavering now and chose not to rush her.

In matters of the heart, mutual consensus was always important.