Sebastian woke to grey light filtering through the curtains and the weight of Julian's head on his shoulder. He did not move. He lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling the slow rhythm of Julian's breathing. Their hands were still intertwined from the night before. The pillows that were supposed to be a barrier were scattered on the floor. Julian shifted, made a soft sound, and his eyes opened. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Julian looked at Sebastian, and Sebastian looked back. The morning light made Julian's face look younger, softer. The dark circles under his eyes were still there, but they seemed less heavy. "Morning," Julian said. His voice was rough with sleep. "Morning." Julian sat up slowly, careful of his knee. He looked at the pillows on the floor, then at Sebastian. "The pillows fell," Julian said. "They did." "We should probably put them back." "Probably." Neither of them moved. Sebastian reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Julian's ear. Ju
Last Updated : 2026-04-06 Read more