Felt it.
Then he shifted, easing down beside me, pulling me with him without even thinking about it, like it was instinct now.Like I belonged there, tucked against his side.
My head rested on his chest, and his arm wrapped around me, fingers absentmindedly brushing up and down my arm in slow, steady strokes.
It wasn’t rushed anymore.
Wasn’t desperate.
Solid.
I exhaled, sinking into him, my body still humming from everything that had just happened.“Do you think anyone heard us?”I asked, my voice soft, almost teasing.
He didn’t hesitate.“No.”
I tilted my head slightly, looking up at him.
He didn’t look down.
Didn’t even try to sell it.
I smiled.“You’re lying.”
He huffed a quiet laugh.“Maybe,” he admitted.
I shook my head, letting it go, settling back against him.
Outside the room, I could hear faint movement.
Voices.
Life.
But in here, it felt distant.Muted.Like none of it could touch us.For a few minutes, we didn’t say anything.Just lay there, breathing.
And then, “What’s going to happen?”I asked quietly.
It slipped out before I could stop it.
Not panicked.
Not scared.
Just… honest.
His arm tightened around me instantly.Not enough to hurt but just enough to anchor me.“I don’t know, sugar,” he said.
I waited.
Because I knew there was more.There always was with him.
“But I know one thing,” he added.
I lifted my head again, meeting his eyes.
“Nothing bad is going to happen to you,” he said, his voice low and steady.“I’ll die before that happens.”
Something in my chest tightened.Not fear.Not doubt.Something else.Something heavier.I didn’t argue with him.Didn’t tell him not to say things like that because I knew he meant it.
