- Aria
I woke up hearing the sound of running water. It wasn't rain or the sea I had been dreaming about, but it was just someone running a bath.
The scent of eucalyptus and clean, comforting heat filled the room, forcing my body to relax deeply. My limbs felt heavy and distant, like pieces I hadn't quite claimed yet and not fully under my control.
Luca was there when I cracked my eyes open.
His sleeves were rolled up, and his tie was off. His hair was messy, clearly from running his hands through it over and over.
He looked extremely concentrated. This intense focus worried me, because it looked like he was held together only by stubborn effort, ready to fall apart at any moment.
“You’re awake,” he said.
“Unfortunately,” I croaked.
One corner of his mouth lifted
