Moonlight spilled through the window, painting his face in silver and shadow.
His eyes, soft and unreadable, locked with hers.
For a heartbeat, they just looked at each other.
No words, no teasing, just the quiet hum of sothing neither of them dared to na.
Then Axel reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
His touch lingered a second longer than necessary, his warm fingers brushing her cheek.
"Evelyn..." His voice was low, almost a whisper. "I missed you today."
"You saw this morning."
He smiled faintly. "That was too long ago."
Her lips parted, but no sound ca out. The air between them grew thick.
Then his hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face upward.
Axel lowered his head, too close to make Evelyn’s heart race.
When his lips t hers, it wasn’t wild or hurried; it was slow, deliberate, and tender. The kind of kiss that made everything else fade away.
It was a kiss that spoke of apology, longing, and promises unspoken.
Her fingers found their way to his chest, resting against his heartbeat. She could feel it pounding beneath her palm; steady, strong, and very real.
For once, she didn’t overthink it. Instead of pulling away, she returned his kiss with an equal passion.
But as the kiss deepened, she felt her breath quicken, her thoughts blur. Axel’s warmth surrounded her completely, his presence overwhelming yet comforting all at once.
When he finally pulled back, she was left breathless.
He smiled, brushing his thumb along her cheek.
"Now you can sleep."
She wanted to say sothing, anything, but words failed her.
Instead, she pressed her forehead against his chest and let out a shaky breath.
Axel’s arms wrapped around her again, holding her close.
"I’m sorry," he murmured against her hair. "For worrying you. For everything."
She didn’t answer. Her heart already had.
The quiet stretched once more, but this ti, it was peaceful. Safe.
And just as her eyes began to flutter shut, she heard him whisper, almost too softly to catch:
"I know you love , Eve."
Her eyes snapped open as she looked at him, but by then, Axel had already closed his, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Evelyn looked at him for a long mont, torn between wanting to say sothing to deny his words and wanting to kiss him again.
In the end, she settled while smiling happily.
And as the night settled around them, her heart, finally, felt at peace.
...
Morning ca far too soon.
Evelyn woke to the soft brush of sunlight spilling through the curtains.
For a mont, she didn’t move.
The room was quiet except for the faint rustle of sheets and the steady rhythm of soone’s breathing beside her.
It took her a second to rember.
Then everything from last night ca flooding back: the worry, the teasing, the kiss, the warmth of his arms around her.
Her lips curved slightly. Axel.
He was still asleep, his arm resting around her waist as if claiming her even in his dreams.
His body radiated heat against her back, and every slight shift of his breathing sent tiny sparks down her spine.
Usually, she would’ve pushed him away by now. But this morning... she didn’t want to.
Instead, she stayed perfectly still, letting herself savor the mont.
The quiet. The warmth. The way her heart felt calm for once.
She’d never imagined mornings could feel like this: soft, safe, and peaceful.
Just her and Axel, existing in this strange, gentle bubble that felt too fragile to disturb.
Her gaze wandered toward the faint outline of his hand over her stomach.
The mory of how he’d kissed her last night ca back; slow, patient, tender enough to undo every wall she’d ever built.
Her face heated just thinking about it. She couldn’t rember when she had last felt so... alive like now.
Careful not to wake him, Evelyn turned slightly to face him.
Axel’s hair was a ss, falling across his forehead, his features softer in sleep than she’d ever seen them.
He looked nothing like the cold, dangerous man everyone else feared. Not right now.
He looked human. Hers.
Her fingers hesitated in the air, tempted to brush a lock of his hair away.
She stopped halfway, scolding herself silently.
’No, Evelyn, don’t start getting clingy.’
But it was already too late. A quiet laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
She was in trouble. Real trouble. Because sohow, this man had managed to slip past her defenses, and now she couldn’t imagine her life without him in it.
Her heart clenched when she saw his eyelash flutter open.
"Staring again?" His voice ca suddenly, deep and rough with sleep.
Evelyn froze, wide-eyed.
"You... you’re awake?"
One corner of his mouth lifted in that lazy smirk.
"Hard not to be when my wife’s burning holes into my face with her eyes."
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
"I wasn’t..."
He opened his eyes fully, those green eyes softening as they t hers.
"You were."
Evelyn’s lips parted, but she couldn’t find any words to refute him. Instead, she turned away, muttering under her breath, "Why are you always right?"
Axel chuckled, the sound warm and low.
He leaned in closer, his breath lightly brushing her ear.
"How are you feeling now? Do you feel better? Are you still mad at because we are not doing it?"
Evelyn bit her lip, desperately trying to keep a straight face.
"You talk too much in the morning."
"Only when I wake up next to my pretty wife who is already falling into my arms."
There’s a genuine happiness in his voice.
She didn’t feel the need to pretend or hide what she felt. Axel already knew. And sohow, that knowledge didn’t scare her anymore. It made her... happy.
Then,
Evelyn moved closer, resting her head against his chest. "You know," she murmured, "I think I like this..."
"What? being shirtless in your bed?"
She laughed softly, tapping his chest.
"No. This. Us... Our relationship progresses."
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