We walk to the elevator in comfortable silence, exhaustion weighing down each step like wet sand. My body feels like it’s beginning to shut down, the adrenaline of the day finally draining from my limbs. Caden glances at me, his sharp eyes softening as he notices the slump in my shoulders. Without a word, he bends down and lifts me into his arms, bridal-style, tucking my head against his chest like I weigh nothing. I’m asleep before the elevator doors even close.
When I stir, golden sunlight filters through the curtains, washing the room in warmth. I’m tucked tightly into Caden’s arms, our legs tangled, his chest pressed against my back like a protective wall. His scent—pine, warmth, something wholly him—grounds me instantly.
I yawn, stretch, and roll to face him, gently poking his chest
