Sophia The morning light crept in gently through the silk curtains, painting the room in soft hues of gold and warmth. I blinked awake slowly, the softness of the pillow still caressing my cheek, and a familiar scent surrounding me—cedarwood and mint. Erick. I didn’t move right away. My lashes fluttered slightly, my heart thudded with a rhythm that wasn’t nervousness, but something far more delicate. He was right there beside me. Still asleep, or so I thought. He lay on his back, one arm draped over the silk sheets, his chest rising and falling with slow, even breaths. His golden-brown hair was tousled, a few strands falling over his forehead in a way that made him look younger, almost boyish. The light kissed the sharp line of his jaw, and his lashes — thick and dark — rested

