Elena’s POV
I woke slowly, the sunlight pushing its way through half-closed blinds. Adrian’s arm was heavy around my waist, his breath warm against my shoulder. For a moment, it felt like we were in a bubble, the scandals, the old wounds, the biting press, all of it blurred beyond these walls.
Then I remembered what today meant. The final edits of my manuscript were due. My editor had emailed last night, gently prodding about the missing pieces, the personal pages I’d been circling for weeks. The rawest parts of my story, the ones I still hadn’t committed fully to paper.
Adrian stirred behind me, his fingers flexing on my stomach. “You’re thinking too loudly,” he murmured, voice still rough with sleep.
I managed a small smile. “Am I?”
“Yes.” He pressed a slow kiss to my shoulder blade
