The sun peeked through the linen curtains, casting golden streaks across the floor of the lake house. Elena stretched lazily in bed, tangled in the soft sheets, a faint smile playing on her lips. Beside her, Zayden lay on his side, head propped on his arm, watching her like she was the only thing worth seeing in the world.
"You're staring again," Elena murmured, her voice still laced with sleep.
"I never get tired of it," Zayden replied, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "You look like peace."
She chuckled, poking his chest. "And you look like trouble."
He caught her hand, lacing their fingers together, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Then maybe we balance each other out."
They spent the morning in a kind of soft haze—slow kisses, shared laughter, and an unspoken agreement to ignore the outside world for one more day. Zayden brewed coffee while Elena scrambled eggs, barefoot in the kitchen, her hair in a messy bun and wearing one of his oversized shirts.
"I could get used to this," she said as they sat on the porch, breakfast in hand, overlooking the still lake.
"Then let me give you a thousand mornings like this," Zayden said, taking her hand again. "Stay."
She turned to him, her eyes warm and searching. "I already am."
Later, they spread a blanket near the lake and read together, bodies tucked close, with Zayden occasionally stealing kisses between pages. Elena laughed every time he tried to pretend he was more into the book than her.
As the sun dipped low and stars began to scatter across the sky, they returned inside. Zayden lit the fireplace, and soft jazz played in the background. They cooked dinner side by side—her cutting vegetables, him stirring the pasta—every glance and brush of their hands charged with a quiet kind of intimacy.
When dinner was over, and the house had grown quiet again, they curled up on the sofa. Zayden pulled her into his lap, holding her close. She rested her head on his shoulder as his hand traced light circles along her thigh.
"You're everything, Elena," he murmured into her hair.
She turned, meeting his gaze. "Then show me."
Their lips met, slow and unhurried at first. But the softness deepened, their kisses growing hungrier as they moved from the sofa to the bedroom. Clothes slipped away, replaced with skin against skin, breathless whispers, and touches that spoke louder than words.
That night, they loved each other like they had all the time in the world.
And when they finally lay tangled in each other's arms, hearts still racing, Elena whispered into the darkness, "I never thought I could feel this safe."
Zayden kissed her temple and whispered back, "I'll never let you feel anything else."
They drifted off to sleep with the window open, the scent of pine and lake water mixing with the warmth of shared love.
---