The morning light streamed in through the large windows, casting a soft glow across the room. Grace woke first, her body still tangled in the sheets, Liam's warmth pressed against her back. Her mind was a quiet haze saturated with the remnants of the night, a mix of passion, vulnerability, and something much deeper that she couldn't quite place.
She turned to look at him, his face relaxed in sleep, the faint lines of his jaw softened in rest. The man who had always been so powerful, so driven and here he was, at peace. The sight made her heart do something strange, something both thrilling and terrifying.
She wasn't supposed to feel this way. Not about him. Not after everything , but she did
Carefully, she untangled herself from his embrace, her feet hitting the cold floor. She stood for a moment, staring at him, wondering if she had just crossed a line they couldn't come back from. It had started as a battle. Then it became a dance, a challenge between two people who couldn't quite admit what they wanted. But now? Now, there were no more barriers
She padded quietly into the kitchen, needing the space to gather her thoughts. The quiet hum of the coffee machine filling the silence felt almost too perfect. She knew Liam would wake soon, but she needed a few minutes alone.
Her fingers wrapped around the steaming mug, the hot liquid grounding her, and yet, she couldn't shake the feeling of his presence. It clung to her like a scent , like the memory of his hands on her skin, of his breath on her neck, of the way he had whispered her name in that slow, fervent way that still sent shivers down her spine.
"Coffee sounds great right about now."
Liam's voice was low, still laced with sleep, but it made her heart leap in her chest. She turned to find him standing in the doorway, his eyes dark and full of things unsaid. The sheets hung low around his hips, the muscles of his chest still glistening with a sheen of sweat. He looked like someone who had just crossed into another world and a world that had never existed before the night before.
"Grace …" His gaze softened as he stepped into the room, his hands reaching for the mug in her hand, brushing her fingers in the process "I'm not good with mornings."
She smiled faintly, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You're good with more than just mornings."
His lips curled into a small smile, but then his eyes grew serious. "Are we going to pretend that last night didn't change everything? Or are we just going to say what's already hanging in the air?"
Her breath caught, and she turned her gaze to the coffee, focusing on the swirling steam to avoid meeting his eyes. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything" he replied, his voice quiet but heavy "I know this is complicated. I know you are complicated."
Her heart pounded in her chest at his words. She hadn't wanted this to happen not like this. She had fought so hard to keep a line between them, to stay objective, to stay in control. And now , she felt like everything had been stripped away.
"I don't do this" she said softly, her voice shaking slightly. "I have never done this ,whatever this is. I don't let people in like that. Not easily."
"I know," he said, stepping closer. "But I'm not like anyone else, Grace . You know that. And I'm not going to pretend anymore. Not with you."
Her pulse quickened. She lifted her eyes to meet his, but this time, there was no resistance in her gaze. Only… longing.
"I don't know how to be with you, Liam . I don't know how to do this with someone who has everything and still wants more. And what if you don't want this when the shine wears off?" Her voice cracked, but she pushed through it. "What if I get hurt? What if we both get hurt?"
He reached for her, gently cupping her face in his large hands. "You're not the only one who's scared. But I'm not running, Grace . And I'm not asking you to fix anything. I'm just asking you to let me in. Let me show you that we can make this work. Together."
Her chest tightened, her heart expanding with something she couldn't fully name. The vulnerability in his eyes , the sincerity was something she had never expected from him. Never expected to feel from anyone.
For a moment, she stayed still, caught in the whirlwind of her own thoughts, but then she exhaled, taking a step closer, her hands gently sliding up his chest
"I don't know what this is yet, Liam. I don't know if I'm ready to give everything"
"You don't have to," he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers. "Just give me a chance. Give us a chance."
It was a risk. It was the risk. She knew that. But as she stood there, breathing him in, feeling the steadiness of his presence, something inside of her shifted.
"I don't know what happens next," she said softly, "but I don't want to fight it anymore."
Liam's lips found hers in a kiss ,tender, gentle, but with a hint of something more. It wasn't about passion this time. It was about connection. It was about the promise of something deeper, something that couldn't be defined by anything other than them
When they pulled away, his eyes were still locked on hers, full of that quiet intensity she couldn't escape, but also full of something softer.
"I'll wait as long as it takes," he said, his voice steady. "And I'll keep proving that this is real."
Grace nodded, her heart racing with emotions she had never dared feel. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe they were both on the edge of something dangerous. But for once, she didn't want to fight it