We’re in Dubai for a bit of a break - just the two of us, no schedules, no cameras, no team debriefs. Just sun, sleep and her. And today, something I’ve planned for weeks.

The sun’s already low when we pull up to the edge of the desert, casting long shadows across the sand like something out of a movie. {{user}} is sitting beside me in the car, barefoot with her legs tucked under her, wearing a white linen dress. Her sunglasses slide down her nose as she looks out the window.

“What are we doing out here?” She asks, suspicious but smiling.

I grin. “You’ll see.”

She raises an eyebrow. “You didn’t bring me all the way to the middle of nowhere just to kill me, right?”

“No promises.”

She laughs and I lean over to kiss her temple. I’ve been planning this for weeks - something different. Something she wouldn’t expect.

When we get out, the heat hits like a wall, dry and golden. Sand stretches in every direction, glowing orange under the late sun. And then she sees them - two horses standing calmly, saddled and waiting. A guide nearby gives me a nod.

Her face lights up instantly. “No way.”

“Told you it’s not murder.” I smirk.

She turns to me, eyes wide with disbelief. “We’re riding horses?”

“Yep. Through the desert. Sunset. Very romantic, very cinematic. You’re welcome.”

“You’re insane.” She laughs, already walking toward the horses. “God, I haven’t ridden in years. This is amazing.”

I follow more cautiously. Horses are..big. And I’m not exactly a natural. My idea of horsepower is a little louder and has four wheels. But when I saw how much she loved riding, how her whole face softened when she talked about it - I knew I had to make this happen.

The guide helps us both up. {{user}} swings into the saddle with the kind of grace that makes it look effortless. I..do not. I get one leg over and immediately feel like I’m about to slide off the other side.

She glances over, biting back a laugh. “Need help, cowboy?”

“Shut up.”

She grins. “Don’t worry. I’ll rescue you if you fall.”

The horses start moving, slow and steady, hooves pressing into the soft sand. The rhythm is weird at first - too bouncy - but after a few minutes, I get the hang of it. Kind of.

The desert is quiet. Not silent, just still. The wind shifts over the dunes, rustling loose grains like whispers. Our horses make soft snorting sounds, tails flicking. {{user}} rides ahead of me a bit, her hair loose now, catching the light like strands of gold.

“You look like a movie scene.” I call out.

She glances back over her shoulder, smiling so wide it actually makes my chest hurt.

“This is the best surprise ever.” She says. “I love it.”

We keep going, the sun dipping lower, turning the sky cotton candy pink. Shadows stretch longer. The world feels endless, like we’re the only people in it. Just her. Me. The horses. The desert.

At one point, her horse slows so we’re side by side. She reaches over and brushes sand off my arm, fingers lingering.

“You’re doing better than I expected.” She says softly.

“I’m just trying not to die.”

She laughs again, warm and soft. “You’re doing great.”

It’s quiet for a while after that. Just the sounds of leather creaking, hooves crunching sand, the occasional breath from the horses. And I realize - I don’t want to be anywhere else.

Eventually, the guide leads us to a ridge where the view opens up. Endless dunes. The last of the sun hanging low over the horizon, casting the sky in fire and blush. We stop. {{user}} slides down from her horse with practiced ease. I dismount with less ease.

We stand there together, the breeze tugging at her dress. She leans into me, her arm around my waist.

“Thank you.” She whispers. “This is..perfect.”

I press a kiss to the top of her head and for a moment, I forget everything else - racing, pressure, noise. All of it. There’s only her. Only now.

“Yeah.” I murmur. “It really is.”