They finished eating in a silence filled with looks that said much more than words.
Eren collected the dishes with a calm he did not feel. His movements were measured, almost too controlled. He carried the bowls to the small kitchen and placed them on the stone countertop, resting his hands on either side as if he needed support.
Breathe.
Behind him, he heard Lissana's soft footsteps.
He did not turn around.
He felt her presence first. Then the warmth.
And then, her arms wrapping around him from behind.
Lissana rested her cheek between his shoulder blades, sliding her arms under his until she intertwined her hands over his abdomen. The tunic he wore,” his. “was barely a barrier between their bodies.
“I love you,” she whispered.
It was not an impulsive declaration.
It was a surren
