Slowly falling for you

g Antonella fe

ger. She shifted slightly, her body sore in places she hadn't realized, and let out a low sigh. For one blissf

ck in, slow and steady li

flutter

curtains. Dark walls, a few minimalist paintings, and the faint scent of leather a

er, half-covered by

stra

he sheet slipping from her body. She clutched it to her chest, he

nt, she si

ark hair mussed from sleep, broad chest rising and falling steadily. He looked peac

ed low in

did

at was I

hol to blame, no foggy haze of bad decisions. This had been all her. Her pain.

ht it in the arm

beside her m

beat, neither of them spoke. The connection that had sparked betwee

d, voice roug

d, clutching the s

etween them, thick and heav

fter a moment, his gaz

then regretted it. "Yeah

sappointment, maybe-but he only nodded

e feet touched the cold floor. She spotted her dress crumpled on a nearby

eering way. More like... he wanted to sa

ll clutching the sheet to

out. I can drive you w

nd for some reason, it made Anto

rcing a smile that didn't reach

. She didn't want anythi

revealing the intricate black ink tattooed across his chest-a wolf, fier

ou some coffee?" he off

d at the door, her

her mind

Forget this

voice, soft and exhausted:

s, clean lines that spoke of money but not flash. She perched awkwardly on a stoo

pot, searching through cupboards. There was something comforting abo

nds wrapped around a mug of steaming c

ugar?" h

ack. Tha

against the counter across from her. For

e to tell me anything you don't want to. But

like he knew he was offering more th

at. Part of her wanted to spill everything-to purge the humili

she was someone else. Someone strong

ed last night," she blurted

eyes, no awkward fidgeting.

ttle and foreign. "Instead, I got t

sound that was almost

ck of judgment, the lack of

. Five years being... patient, supportive, understanding." She shook her head, a hu

against the counter. "Soun

startled by the veh

," he said, his eyes fierce and unwavering. "Someone

ng deep inside her, some

ng she didn't even know the name of the man who

gged at the corn

said. "Jas

e settle between them

he said, voice bar

spark of something un

owned.

is voice almost gentle. "Kept whispering i

breath caugh

n her. Not the polished façade she wore like armor. Not the d

e

more. It was warm, tentative. Like the beginni

ing his mug in the sink. "Let me d

t this time, it wasn't

.. just maybe... she had crashed into exactly who she n

, offering a small, real

the morning light, Antonella had no

ly just b