MasukEdwin’s POVThe house by the water had become the rhythm I measured my days by.I woke to the familiar weight of Daniel’s arm draped across my waist, his palm warm and possessive over my stomach. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, breath steady and deep against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, painting the room in soft gold. The distant crash of waves against the shore provided the constant, soothing backdrop that had slowly become part of my nervous system proof that peace could exist after chaos.For a long moment I simply lay there, letting the safety of it all sink in. No racing heart. No checking my phone for new threats. Just the quiet certainty that I was loved, wanted, and home.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth twitched like he could sense me watching. I traced the line of his jaw with one fingertip, feeling the light morning
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had become the rhythm of my days, the steady heartbeat beneath everything else.I woke slowly to the familiar warmth of Daniel’s body curled protectively around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and even against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant sound of waves rolling onto the shore provided the constant, soothing soundtrack that had become woven into the fabric of our healing.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing heart. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward like he could sense
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had stopped being just a beautiful place to heal. It had become the foundation of the life I was finally learning to trust.I woke slowly to the familiar weight of Daniel’s arm draped across my waist, his palm spread possessively over my stomach. His chest was warm and solid against my back, his breath steady and deep against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant rhythm of waves rolling onto the shore provided the constant, soothing soundtrack that had become woven into the fabric of our days.For several long minutes I simply lay there, letting the peace settle deep into my bones. No racing thoughts. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had become more than four walls and a view. It had become the place where the fractures in my soul were slowly knitting back together, one sunrise at a time.I woke to the steady warmth of Daniel’s body curled protectively around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and even against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant rhythm of waves provided the constant, soothing soundtrack that had become the background music to our healing.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing thoughts. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corn
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had become more than a beautiful escape. It had become the place where broken pieces were slowly mending into something stronger, something whole.I woke to the now-familiar feeling of Daniel’s body wrapped around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and steady against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant sound of waves provided a constant, soothing rhythm that had become the soundtrack to our days.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing heart. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward lik
Edwin’s POVThe house by the water had stopped feeling like a sanctuary and had become the foundation of something I never thought I’d have — a real, steady life.I woke to the now-familiar warmth of Daniel’s body wrapped around mine. His chest was pressed firmly to my back, one strong arm draped over my waist with his palm spread possessively across my stomach. His breath was warm and steady against the nape of my neck. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns across the rumpled sheets. The distant sound of waves provided a constant, soothing rhythm that had become the soundtrack to our days.For several long minutes I simply lay there, breathing it all in. No racing heart. No immediate dread. Just the quiet certainty that I was safe, loved, and exactly where I belonged.I turned carefully in his arms so I could face him. Daniel’s eyes were still closed, lashes dark against his cheeks, but the corner of his mouth curved upward like he could sense me
Edwin’s POVThe meeting in Daniel’s office lasted exactly seventeen minutes.He didn’t waste time on the Meridian deck. The slides stayed closed on my laptop. Instead he locked the door the second I stepped inside, pulled me against him, and held me like the world outside had already tried to tear
Daniel Ashcroft’s POVThe photo was still spreading when Edwin finally fell back asleep against my chest.I held him tighter than I should have, one arm locked around his waist, the other cradling the back of his head like I could shield him from the entire digital world if I just pressed hard enou
Edwin’s POVThe notification came at 7:42 a.m. while I was still half-asleep on Daniel’s couch, one of his shirts draped over my shoulders and his arm heavy across my waist. My phone buzzed once on the coffee table, sharp, insistent. I reached for it without thinking, eyes bleary, thumb swiping the
The stolen kiss happened in the supply closet on level 32.I’d gone in for more printer paper. Daniel had followed thirty seconds later, closed the door, and pressed me against the shelves before I could speak.His mouth was on mine, hungry, desperate, like he’d been waiting all morning for this ex







