The city had quieted into a gentle evening hum, the snow outside glowing under streetlights like a soft blanket. Inside Noah’s penthouse, the chaos of the past week felt like a distant storm, replaced by calm, warmth, and the subtle electricity of shared relief.
Noah sank onto the sofa, exhaustion painted across his features, but a small, genuine smile tugged at his lips. Aarush hovered nearby, a glass of wine in hand, watching him carefully, every line of tension still visible despite the victory they had achieved together.
“You look tired,” Aarush said softly, setting the wine down on the coffee table. “Come sit. Let me take care of you tonight.”
Noah hesitated, eyes meeting Aarush’s. The vulnerability he usually hid behind charm and bravado was there, laid bare in a way only Aarush h
