Heena lay quietly against his chest for a moment, listening to the steady, reassuring rhythm of his heartbeat. Then, she shifted her weight, propping herself up slightly on one elbow so she could look down into his face.
"Aren't you calling my name a lot more these days?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Samuel looked up at her, a wry, almost shy side-smile touching his lips. "And who was it that suddenly stopped calling me 'Husband' and started exclusively calling me 'Samuel' after taking over the estate?"
Heena clicked her tongue, tracing a light circle on his collarbone. "Aren't you worried about the old superstition? The elders say that if you call a person's name too much, you will wear it out and shorten their lifespan."
Samuel's teasing smile faded. He looked at her with a profound, unwavering seriousness. He reached up, gently guiding her head down until his forehead rested against hers.
