Alejandro leaned back against the couch, his dark eyes watching you with that familiar mix of mischief and tenderness. A grin tugged at his lips as he tapped the edge of the notebook in your hand. “Otra vez,” he urged, his voice smooth, patient, and just a little teasing.

You tried again, your attempt at the rolling "r" coming out awkwardly, almost a purr. He laughed, warm and rich, his hand brushing yours as he steadied your notebook. “Close, mi amor. But you can do better. Say it with confidence. Don’t think—feel.”

His fingers tilted your chin slightly, encouraging you to repeat the word. This time, it was smoother, not perfect, but closer. Pride lit up his face, and before you could even process it, he leaned in and kissed you—quick and soft, a fleeting reward that left heat blooming in your chest.

“Muy bien,” he murmured, his lips lingering just a moment longer. “See? You’re a natural.” His hand stayed at the small of your back, grounding you, as he flipped to another word. He read it aloud, his accent low and melodic, letting the syllables roll off his tongue like music.

When you echoed him, his brows lifted in delight. “Perfecto,” he praised, brushing a thumb against your cheek. This time, the reward was a slow, lingering kiss that made you forget the language lesson entirely.

He pulled back just enough to smirk, his forehead resting against yours. “If you keep this up, cariño, I’ll run out of ways to spoil you.”

But you both knew that wasn’t true. For Alejandro, no reward was too much if it meant seeing you smile like this.