Markus joined her, his strong arms wrapping around her from behind as they stood under the water. For a while, they just held each other, letting the warmth and the moment wash over them.
No words were necessary, everything they needed to say was conveyed in the way they touched, the way they leaned into each other, the way they breathed in sync.
After a time, when the water began to cool and the steam started to dissipate, Markus gently dried her off, wrapping her in a thick, soft towel. He led her back to the bed, pulling the covers over her as she settled into the plush pillows.
As he crawled into bed beside her, Markus pulled her close, wrapping her in his arms once more. “Sleep now, Kaia,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “We’ll face everything together, but t
