He stands, stretching slightly, and for a second I just… watch him.
Strong. Controlled. Still carrying the weight of last night—but steady.
Reliable.
Dangerous in a way that doesn’t scare me anymore.
Not when it’s turned toward protecting me.
He glances back at me.
“Something on your mind?”
“Just thinking,” I say.
“About?”
I hesitate.
Then tell the truth.
“You didn’t let go of me all night.”
Something shifts in his expression.
Not discomfort.
Not exactly.
Something deeper.
“I wasn’t going to.”
My breath catches slightly at how simple he makes it sound.
Like it wasn’t a decision.
Like it just… was.
Ace
She’s watching me.
I feel it before I even turn around.
And yeah—I know what she’s thinking.
About last night.
About how close everything got.
About how I didn’t let go.
I grab a couple mugs from the cabinet, mostly to give myself something to do.
Blaze is already at the table, laptop open, three screens going, and that look on his face that says he’s found something he doesn’t like.
“Morning,” he mutters without looking up.
