“You are safe,” he says. “Always.”
Minutes—or maybe hours—pass, and I drift between sleep and stillness, curled up in his lap like I was made to fit there. When I start to stir, he shifts just enough to kiss my temple.
“Come on, let's take you home, where I'll prepare you a nice bubble bath and more pampering.” he says while helping me get up and get dressed.
***
As soon as we arrive, Elijah takes me straight to my room, or rather, to ours, because he's been with me every night since we started dating. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
“C’mon, princess,” he says softly. “Let’s get you in the bath. Warm water, lavender salts. Then I’m making you tea and curling you up in bed until you fall asleep on my chest again. Sounds good?”
“Perfect,” I whisper.
And I mean it.
Because for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel too much. I don’t feel like I have to apologize for the space I take up.
I just feel… loved.
Later, after the bath, he helps me into one of his soft t-shirts and brushes my hair with that quiet, focused patience he always has with me. Elijah tucks me into bed like it’s his favorite ritual.
And maybe it is. Because the way he looks at me—like I’m the calm after a storm he’s waited all day for—makes me feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
He climbs in behind me, wrapping himself around me. One arm under my neck, the other across my waist. My back fits perfectly against his chest. I can feel the steady beat of his heart against my spine.
“Comfy?” he murmurs into my hair.
“Mmm.” I nod. “Safe and happy.”
His grip tightens slightly. “That’s all I ever want for you, baby girl.”
We lay there for a while in comfortable silence. His fingers trace lazy circles over my stomach, and I can’t help but smile. The kind of soft, tired smile that only comes when every wall is down.
“I like this,” I whisper. “You. Us. Ending the day like this.”
He hums in agreement. “I do too. This is the best part of my day.”
“Better than the part where I was sitting on your face?” I tease, voice barely above a whisper, heat rushing to my cheeks.
He lets out a low, warm laugh against my neck. “That was heaven. But this?” He pulls me tighter. “This is peace.”
I melt a little more into him.
“I used to think I wasn’t good at this,” I say quietly. “Being vulnerable. Being wanted. But you make it… feel easy, safe. Like I don’t have to pretend I’m not scared sometimes.”
His voice is serious now. “You never have to pretend with me. Not ever. Brave girls get scared too. Doesn’t make you any less strong.”
“Even when I fall apart?”
“Especially when you fall apart. That’s when I get to hold you like this.”
My throat tightens, but I don’t cry. I just reach for his hand and lace our fingers together.
“Thank you for loving me the way you do,” I murmur.
He presses a kiss just behind my ear, soft as a promise.
“There’s no other way I’d ever love you, baby girl.”
