Felix's cheek remained pressed to Matteo's chest, lulled by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
For a long while, he was content just to listen, eyes half-closed, body molded into the warmth beside him.
But eventually, his voice broke the quiet, soft and tentative.
"Matteo?"
"Mhm?"
"I was thinking…" Felix shifted slightly, tilting his head back to see Matteo's face. His expression was calm, but his eyes carried a fragile glimmer of hope. "Tomorrow… could I come with you? To the office?"
Matteo's hand stilled where it rested on Felix's shoulder.
The refusal rose sharp and immediate, instinct clawing up his throat, but he swallowed it down.
His gaze lingered on Felix's hopeful face, and his chest ached with that old, familiar protectiveness.
"You want to sit through endless meetings?" Matteo asked lightly, masking the weight in his voice.
