I did not wake up in my own room.
That came quietly, without confusion. The space, the weight beside me, the steady warmth that had not moved through the night, all of it settled into place before I even opened my eyes fully. Darius was still there, close enough that the distance between us felt intentional rather than accidental.
When I finally looked at him, his gaze was already on me.
"You're awake," I said.
"I was waiting for you to stop pretending," he replied.
"I wasn't pretending."
"You were."
I shifted slightly, enough to breathe properly, and his hand adjusted at my waist as if the movement concerned him more than it should have.
"You stayed," I said.
"Yes."
That was all he offered, and it was enough to make me pause longer than I intended.
The knock came then, firm and controlled.
Darius did not move immediately. He looked at me for a second longer before turning his head toward the door.
"Enter."
