I carry her to the bed and lay her down gently. She starts to curl away, as if ashamed, but I don’t let her. I climb in beside her, pulling her back into my chest, tucking the blanket around us both. My arm circles her waist, my hand splayed across her stomach, holding her there like I’m anchoring her to earth itself.
Her breaths are still uneven. I kiss the back of her head, whispering against her hair, “You’re safe now. With me, you’re safe.”
Slowly, her body begins to melt into mine, the tension draining from her muscles. Her breathing steadies, falling into rhythm with my own. She shifts slightly, her fingers finding my wrist where it rests against her stomach, clutching me like a lifeline.
I close my eyes, pressing my nose into her hair. “Sleep,ogonek. I’ll be here when you wake. I’m not going anywhere.”
Minutes stretch. The city hums beyond the glass, the world outside still dangerous, still waiting. But in this bed, in this moment, it’s only her.
Her breathing finally evens out, soft and steady. She’s asleep—safe, warm, and still in my arms.
And I lie awake, watching the shadows crawl across the ceiling, holding her like if I loosen my grip, the universe will tear her away from me.
Chapter 17 – Noelle
I wake slowly, the soft weight of the blankets pressing me down, the faint hum of the city beyond the glass settling into my bones. For a moment, I lie still, disoriented, letting the blur of last night settle back over me. The words, the tears, the truths I didn’t want to hear. My mother. My father. Anton. The mess of it all tangles in my chest like barbed wire.
I drag a hand across my face. Everything feels…heavy. Messy. Like I’m not sure where I begin and where their shadows end.
The door creaks softly, and I look up.
Niko steps inside, balancing a tray in his hands. The smell hits me first—warm bread, eggs, coffee. Simple things, but my throat tightens all the same. His eyes meet mine, and just like that, the weight on my chest eases a little.
“Good morning,ogonek,” he says quietly. His voice is rough from sleep, but softer than I expect.
And before I can stop myself, my lips twitch into something that feels suspiciously like a smile.
He did this. For me.
And suddenly, despite the storm still raging in my head, I start to feel a little steadier. A little lighter.
He sets the tray across my lap, then takes his place beside me on the bed, close enough that his thigh brushes mine. The steam from the coffee curls between us, but the warmth I feel has nothing to do with that.
I pick up a piece of toast, tearing it carefully, almost stalling before I ask, “Have you ever…done this before?”
He arches a brow. “What? Fed a woman breakfast in bed?”
“Yes.” I squint at him, pretending to sound casual, but my heart is already thudding. “Brought food, sat close, tried to look all domestic?”
He leans back on one arm, smirking. “Domestic?”
“Mm-hm.” I nod, popping the bite of toast into my mouth. “You look suspiciously good at this. Makes me wonder how many women you’ve rehearsed it with.”
He chuckles, low and warm. “None.”
“None?” I tilt my head, unconvinced. “Come on, Niko. Not even once?”
“Not even once,” he repeats firmly, meeting my eyes with that unflinching intensity of his. “Do you really think I’d wake up early, brew coffee, and balance a tray for anyone but you?”
My cheeks heat. I laugh to cover it up. “So what—you’re telling me I’m special?”
His smile curves wicked, but his eyes—his eyes are something else, softer than I’ve ever seen them. “You’re the only one.”
Something inside me stirs at those words, fluttering and aching all at once.
I reach for the coffee to distract myself. “Well,” I murmur, trying to sound breezy, “for a first-timer, you’re not bad at this. Though….” I glance at the eggs and give him a mock-serious look. “They could use a little salt.”
He snatches the fork from my hand before I can take another bite. “Ungrateful,” he mutters, holding the fork out of my reach.
