The silence in the room stretched between them like a comforting blanket. Annabelle lay nestled in Derek’s arms, her head resting against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. She was acutely aware of every inch of his skin touching hers, and the sensation was both overwhelming and soothing. The soft scent of him lingered in the air, the warmth of his body keeping the chill of the night at bay.
For a long time, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. Words felt unnecessary after everything that had happened. The unspoken connection between them, the shared breath, the way their bodies fit together so perfectly, was enough.
Annabelle closed her eyes, her fingers tracing the faint scars on his chest, feeling the roughness of his past beneath her fingertips. She had n
