The Next level

The room was still cast in the muted light of early dawn, the silence broken only by the soft, rhythmic sound of breathing. Nora's eyelids fluttered open, her vision still hazy from sleep. She blinked, trying to place the unfamiliar surroundings, until she caught a glimpse of something that sent her heart racing.

A muscular arm was wrapped around her waist, holding her close to a warm, solid chest. She could feel the steady rise and fall of breath against her skin, and the steady rhythm of a heartbeat that was not her own.

Nora's body tensed with confusion and panic. She tried to move, but the arm around her waist held her in place, the fingers gently digging into her skin. She let out a soft sigh of frustration, her breath quick and shallow.Alex's eyes slowly opened, the sleep still clouding his mind. As he took in the sight of Nora's worried face,