At Ryan’s place, the morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Cleo was still fast asleep, her breath steady, her body completely still—evidence of just how much the previous night’s mission had taken out of her. She looked almost fragile now, curled up beside him with her head resting gently on his chest, her fingers loosely clutching the sheets.
Ryan lay still for a moment, simply watching her. Her face, serene in sleep, carried traces of exhaustion, yet there was a quiet beauty in the way her features softened when she wasn’t guarding herself. He reached out almost instinctively, brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"You’re reall
