BLISSFUL IN ELISERA

I woke up slowly, my face pressed into the warmth of Emmet's chest, the steady rise and fall of his breathing lulling me in that gentle in-between of sleep and wakefulness. His arm was draped loosely around my waist, fingers still tangled in the fabric of my shirt from the night before, and I could feel the soft puff of his breath against the top of my head.

It took me a minute to remember the day and where we were. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting the room in a golden glow, warm and serene. I let myself lie there, eyes half-closed, savoring the rare luxury of waking up slowly, with no urgency to move, no need to leave this cocoon we had created for ourselves.

Emmet stirred beside me, his body shifting as he let out a sleepy hum. I glanced up, catching the moment his eyes fluttered open, that soft smile already pulling at the corners of his mouth when he saw me watching him.