The morning sun crept through the curtains, soft and golden, falling across the room in quiet stripes. Liam stirred, the faint warmth of sunlight brushing his face. His arm tightened instinctively around the soft body resting against him.
Lana.
Her head lay on his chest, her hair a mess of brown waves spread across the pillow and his bare skin. She looked peaceful, lips parted slightly, her breathing slow and even. For a moment, Liam just lay there, watching her. The sunlight kissed her face, making her look unreal — like the world had decided to pause just for her.
They hadn't crossed the line last night. It had gotten close — too close — but they'd stopped. Somewhere between the heat and the silence, both of them had known it wasn't the moment. And somehow, that restraint made everything between them feel even stronger.
