I looked up, startled to find Rafael standing in the doorway. The soft click of the door closing behind him echoed through the room, though it felt strangely muted in contrast to the pounding of my heart. He was dressed casually—more so than usual—his usual sharp, controlled appearance replaced with an easy demeanor that only seemed to mask the intensity in his eyes.
I could feel the weight of his gaze even before I fully acknowledged him, the way he stood there as if waiting for me to say something, as if he expected some sort of reaction. His presence alone filled the space, making everything else seem distant and unimportant.
“I thought you might be awake,” he said softly, his voice carrying a gentle lilt, though it was laced with an unmistakable tenderness.
It was the kind of voice
