Leo’s footsteps were soft as he crept down the hall, the house quiet except for the faint ticking of a clock somewhere nearby. He paused outside Ava’s door, the faint glow of moonlight slipping through the curtains spilling into the darkened hallway.
Inside, Ava lay tangled in the sheets, her breathing slow and even—until a shadow shifted beside her bed. She stirred, blinking sleep from her eyes as a warm presence enveloped her.
Without a word, Leo gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, his touch careful and tender. His hands rested lightly on her waist, pulling her close, grounding her with warmth and quiet reassurance.
Ava’s eyes fluttered open, meeting the soft intensity in his gaze. There was no teasing now, no mischievous smile—only something softer, almost vulnerable.
He leaned his head down, resting it gently against hers. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” he whispered, voice low and steady. “About how brave you are, how real you are.”
She felt his breath brush the
