Rafael Vexley paused, hovering over her, his grey eyes sparkling with triumph and something deeper—adoration. "Does that mean...?"
She caught her breath, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding not just from the laughter but from the way he looked at her, like she was the center of his universe. "Yes. I'll go. But only because you're a bully."
Rafael's face broke into a genuine smile, one that crinkled the corners of his eyes and softened his commanding presence. "You're amazing. Thank you." He leaned down, capturing her cheeks—although, he wished it was her lips—in a tender kiss that lingered just a bit, full of promise and unspoken emotions.
They settled back into the bed, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her close. Her head rested on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lulling her. The room grew quiet, save for their synchronized breathing, as sleep claimed them in each other's arms—a tangle of limbs and warmth, a sanctuary amid the world's chaos.
