The fire crackled softly, casting a warm glow over the room as Martina leaned into Elias’s embrace. The weight of the day settled over her, but for once, it wasn’t exhaustion from conflict or stress. It was a peaceful kind of tired, the kind that came after a day well spent.
Elias absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair, his touch lighter than usual—gentle, careful. He had always been a man of precision, of control, but with her, he allowed himself to soften.
“Are you comfortable?” he murmured.
Martina smiled against his chest. “More than comfortable.”
His hand rested on her stomach, his thumb tracing slow, idle circles over the fabric of her dress. “I still can’t believe it,” he admitted.
She tilted her head up, catching the flicker of emotion in his usually guarded expressio
