Morning arrived in soft gray light that filtered through the half-closed blinds. Ethan woke first. He lay still for several minutes, listening to Aria’s even breathing beside him, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest against his side.
Her hand rested open on his stomach, fingers curled loosely. He covered it with his own, thumb tracing the delicate bones on the back of her hand.
She stirred eventually. Eyes opened slowly. She blinked up at him, then offered a small, sleepy smile before pressing her face back into his shoulder. Neither spoke. There was no need yet.
Ethan kissed the top of her head once, then carefully disentangled himself. He slipped from the bed, pulled on a pair of sweatpants from the floor, and padded barefoot to the kitchen. The counter had been wiped clean
