Unhurried.
The kind of kiss that makes the world fade away.
My hands slide into his hair as his arms wrap around me, pulling me closer.
The kitchen disappears.
The river.
The quiet house.
Everything except the warmth of him.
When he lifts me onto the counter beside him, I laugh softly.
“You’re very persuasive.”
“I try.”
His mouth finds mine again, deeper this time.
Every touch feels deliberate.
Careful.
Like he’s memorizing me.
The sunlight pours across the kitchen floor as the morning stretches around us.
The rest of the world can wait.
For once—
There are no alarms.
No countdown clocks.
No collapsing systems.
Just Boone’s arms around me.
His voice low against my ear.
“You’re not going anywhere, are you?”
I pull back just enough to look at him.
“No.”
“Good.”
I kiss him again.
And this time—
Neither of us is in any hurry to stop.
The quiet house holds the moment around us.
