The sun was barely a golden haze on the horizon when Caelan stirred awake. His breath was warm against Elise’s neck, his arms loosely draped around her, holding her close. Her hair was a wild tangle against his chest, and the faint scent of lavender lingered on her skin.
For a long moment, he simply stayed still, unwilling to break the spell of morning softness. His fingertips traced slow, featherlight circles against her back. He felt the subtle rise and fall of her breathing, the sleepy weight of her leg hooked over his. It felt so natural—so right—despite the strangeness of their situation.
Elise stirred slightly, exhaling a soft, contented sigh against his collarbone. He smiled faintly at the warmth of her breath against his skin, and his hand moved to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She made a small sound of protest and pressed closer, burying her face against him, reluctant to let the morning take her from him.
“Good morning,” he whispered, his lips brushing the crown of her head.
She hummed softly, her voice still thick with sleep. “Mmm. Too early.”
Caelan chuckled, his chest vibrating gently against her cheek. “You’re the one who fell asleep halfway through a kiss last night,” he teased lightly, running his fingers along her bare shoulder.
She lifted her head just enough to shoot him a sleepy glare, her eyes half-lidded and soft with lingering slumber. “I was very comfortable, thank you very much,” she mumbled, nuzzling against him again.
He smiled, brushing his lips against her hairline. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. She smelled like sunlight and wildflowers, like comfort and belonging.
For a while, they simply lay there, pressed against each other, unwilling to let the day claim them. The golden morning light slipped through the cabin window, casting a soft glow over them. The fire had burned low to embers, but the warmth of their tangled limbs kept the chill at bay.
Caelan’s hand moved slowly down her back, smoothing over the curve of her waist. She arched slightly into his touch, exhaling softly. When she looked up at him, her eyes were drowsy but filled with warmth, golden and soft, like honey catching the light.
She traced the line of his jaw with her fingertips, as if committing the shape of him to memory. Her voice was a whisper. “I wish we could stay here forever.”
His chest tightened at her words, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak. Instead, he cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing across her cheekbone. His eyes were tender, filled with the same quiet longing he could feel pulsing in his chest.
“Then let’s make forever right now,” he murmured.
Before she could answer, he tilted her chin up and kissed her, slow and deliberate. His lips were warm and unhurried, moving against hers with gentle reverence, as if savoring the taste of her.
Elise melted into him, her arms sliding around his neck, pulling herself closer. The kiss deepened, slow and lingering. She could feel the heat of his skin beneath her fingertips, the slow thud of his heartbeat against her chest. She sighed softly into his mouth, losing herself in him.
When they finally parted, her forehead rested against his, her eyes half-lidded and dazed with affection. Her voice was barely above a breath. “Kiss me again.”
He didn’t need to be asked twice. His lips found hers once more, claiming her with unyielding tenderness. The kiss was slow and consuming, stealing her breath and making her knees weak. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.
His hands slid over her back, gentle and reverent, as though he was afraid she might slip through his fingers if he let go. When his mouth trailed down her jawline, Elise let out a breathless sigh, her eyes fluttering shut.
Her skin was soft beneath his lips, and he was intoxicated by her. His kisses traced the curve of her throat, slow and lingering, tasting the delicate pulse at the base of her neck.
“Caelan,” she whispered, his name slipping from her lips like a prayer.
He looked up at her, his eyes dark with longing but soft with tenderness. Her hands cupped his face, her thumbs brushing over his cheekbones.
“I love you,” she whispered again, her voice trembling with the weight of it.
His breath caught. Even now, the words still unraveled him, leaving him vulnerable and raw. His hands cradled her face as though she were the most precious thing he’d ever held.
“I love you too,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. His lips brushed over hers once, twice—gentle, reverent. “So much.”
They left the cabin in the late morning, wandering into the woods without direction, simply content to be together. Their hands remained loosely intertwined as they walked beneath the canopy of leaves. The sun was warm on their backs, and the gentle rustle of the wind in the trees filled the silence between them.
Elise led him toward a secluded glade she had spotted the previous day. When they arrived, the small clearing was bathed in dappled sunlight. Wildflowers bloomed in splashes of color across the meadow.
She turned to face him, her eyes alight with mischief. Without warning, she slipped off her shoes and stepped into the soft grass. She spun slowly, lifting her arms, her hair catching the light like gold thread.
“Dance with me,” she called softly, holding her hand out to him.
Caelan’s lips parted in surprise. He shook his head with a faint laugh, but his eyes were warm. “There’s no music,” he teased.
She arched a brow playfully. “Since when do you need music to dance?”
He hesitated for only a moment before stepping toward her. He took her hand, his fingers curling around hers, and pulled her into his arms. Slowly, they began to sway, the faint whisper of the wind their only accompaniment.
Elise rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. His arms circled around her waist, drawing her closer. They moved slowly, aimlessly, with no rhythm or reason, just the gentle sway of their bodies pressed together.
Caelan pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, his voice barely above a breath. “I could stay like this forever.”
Elise smiled faintly against his chest, her voice muffled by the fabric of his shirt. “Me too.”
He shifted slightly, tilting her chin up. His eyes searched hers, soft and adoring. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, brushing his thumb over her cheek.
Her breath caught in her throat. The tenderness in his voice made her chest ache. She cupped his face and kissed him, slow and sweet, pouring everything she couldn’t say into the press of her lips.
When they parted, she rested her forehead against his, their breaths mingling.
“Stay with me,” he whispered, repeating the same plea he’d made the night before.
Elise closed her eyes, her hands trembling slightly as they pressed against his chest. She didn’t want to let this go—to let him go. She knew their time was borrowed, slipping through her fingers with every moment.
“I will,” she promised. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed the sorrow she was trying to hide.
As the sun dipped low, they returned to the cabin. The evening light painted the walls gold, and the fire crackled softly in the hearth.
Caelan sat on the floor with his back against the couch, and Elise settled between his legs, her back pressed against his chest. His arms wrapped loosely around her, his chin resting on her shoulder.
The silence between them was comfortable, broken only by the occasional soft kiss he pressed to her shoulder.
Finally, she turned in his arms, straddling his lap. Her fingers brushed over his face, memorizing every line, every contour. Her eyes were warm but solemn.
“I’m scared,” she confessed softly.
His brows furrowed. “Of what?”
Her voice wavered slightly. “Of going back. Of losing this. Losing you.”
Caelan’s arms tightened around her, pulling her closer. He pressed his forehead against hers, his voice raw and broken.
“You won’t lose me,” he promised fiercely. “I’ll find you. No matter where we are, no matter how far—” His voice cracked slightly. “I’ll find you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She kissed him softly, slowly, as if trying to imprint the taste of him on her soul.
And as the fire crackled low and the stars emerged beyond the window, they clung to each other, as if their love could transcend even the cruelest twist of fate.
For in each other’s arms, they had found their home. And no body—no boundary—could ever take that away.