16. Accidents Happen

Wrapped up in one another's arms, the world beyond their cocoon seemed to blur and fade, losing all significance. The hours of the day drifted by unnoticed, unmarked by anything but the steady rhythm of their breathing, the gentle caress of skin on skin, and the warmth that radiated from the very core of their being. It was a serenity they had never known, a connection that transcended mere physicality and reached into the depths of their souls. In those precious, stolen moments, they were able to sleep, truly sleep, in the middle of the day.

As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink, Gideon's eyes fluttered open. He lay there for a moment, simply watching her, drinking in the peaceful expression on her face, the way her hair fanned out on the pillow, the gentle rise and fall of her chest. A sense of contentment washed over him, a satisfaction born not of possession, but of partnership, of belonging.

With a gentle touch, he brushed a stray lock of hair