The days that followed no longer felt like part of a "deal."
They felt like something else entirely.Something softer… deeper… dangerous in a different way.Aria woke up slowly, her senses filled with warmth before her eyes even opened.Not sunlight but him.
Rafael's arm was wrapped around her, holding her close as if even in sleep, he refused to let her go. Her head rested against his chest, steady heartbeats echoing beneath her ear.
For a moment… she didn't move. Didn't think.Just felt.This was peace.
A kind she had never known before.
"You're awake," his low voice broke the silence, still rough from sleep.
Aria smiled faintly, not looking up. "You too."
"I didn't sleep much."
That made her finally glance at him. "Why?"
His fingers brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his gaze softer than she had ever seen.
"Because I kept checking if you were still here."Her breath caught.
Moments like this… they weren't part of any deal.
