MORNING LIGHT

The soft rustling of sheets stirred Sophie awake.

Sunlight streamed in gently through the cream-colored curtains, painting golden rays across the room. The air was still, warm, and quiet—so quiet it was easy to forget the rest of the world existed. For a moment, she simply lay there, caught in the haze of half-sleep, wondering if the dreamlike feeling from the night before had somehow followed her into morning.

Then she turned and saw James lying beside her.

He was facing her, his head resting slightly tilted on the pillow. One arm stretched over the sheets, his fingers almost touching hers. His chest rose and fell in slow, steady rhythm, and for a moment, Sophie didn't move. She just watched him. Studied the long eyelashes she'd never noticed before. The faint scar on his collarbone. The soft curve of his lips.

James.

She hadn't expected this. Not the closeness. Not the way his presence softened her edges. Not how natural it felt, waking up beside him.

She shifted gently, and his eyes fluttered open.

He blinked once, twice, then smiled.

"Good morning," he whispered, voice deep and coated in sleep.

"Morning," she whispered back, her lips curving.

They didn't move. Didn't need to. There was a quiet understanding between them now, something unspoken but whole. She felt the warmth of his gaze brush over her face like sunlight.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

She nodded. "Surprisingly, yes."

James reached forward and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch lingered, his thumb grazing her cheek in a way that sent a flutter down her spine.

"You look peaceful."

"You always say things like that," she murmured.

"Because they're true."

He leaned in, pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then her cheek. And finally, her lips. Soft and slow. Just once. Then again. Longer this time.

Sophie reached for him instinctively, her hands sliding over his shoulders, fingers brushing the base of his neck. James deepened the kiss slightly, his hand slipping beneath the covers to rest gently on her waist.

The warmth of their bodies beneath the sheets grew more apparent, and as she pressed against him, she could feel his heart pounding just like hers.

His lips moved from her mouth to her jawline, trailing slowly to her neck. Sophie let out a soft sigh as his hand skimmed her side, fingers brushing beneath the edge of her shirt. She wasn't afraid. She wasn't unsure. She wanted this closeness. Craved it.

James paused, forehead resting against hers.

"Tell me if I'm going too far," he whispered.

"You're not," she replied.

She guided his hand upward, resting it just below her ribs, over her bare skin. It was delicate. Reverent. As if he was memorizing her with touch alone. His thumb moved in slow, soothing circles while his other hand cradled her face, his kiss deepening once more.

They explored each other's warmth—hands slipping beneath fabric, touches slow and full of meaning. Their breathing grew heavy, mingling. And yet, despite the building intensity, there was always restraint. No crossing of limits. Just connection. Deep, full-hearted connection.

Eventually, the kiss softened, tapering off into slower, more thoughtful touches. James wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. She rested her head there, listening to his heartbeat.

They stayed that way for a long time.

After a while, Sophie whispered, "We should probably get ready."

James nodded, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Yeah. Before we forget we're not the only people in the world."

They both laughed quietly.

James showered first. Sophie lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, smiling softly. She didn't want to leave the moment behind. She wanted to carry it with her.

After changing into the simple floral dress she had packed "just in case," she stepped into the bathroom to freshen up. James waited for her outside, dressed in his open flannel shirt and dark jeans, running his fingers through his still-damp hair.

They checked out of the hotel just after ten.

Instead of heading back, James drove them to a quiet overlook just beyond the edge of Fernbrook. The winding roads led to a place where the cliffs looked out over miles of green and gold. Below them, the trees moved like a sea, swaying to the wind's rhythm.

James parked the car and turned off the engine. They both got out, letting the wind pull gently at their hair and clothes.

"I come here sometimes," he said, stepping ahead. "When I need to feel small."

Sophie stood beside him at the edge. "It's beautiful."

"Not everything has to be explained," James murmured. "Some things just have to be felt."

She slipped her hand into his. "What do you feel right now?"

He turned toward her. "You."

They stood like that for a while—hands entwined, silence between them filled with something heavy and comforting. Sophie leaned her head on his shoulder, and James kissed her hair.

Eventually, the clouds began to gather overhead.

"Time to go," Sophie said.

He nodded.

The car ride back to Elowen was quiet, but not empty. It was the kind of silence that followed closeness, not distance. Sophie looked out the window, but her mind kept drifting back to the way James had held her, the way his lips had made her feel like she wasn't fading.

When they pulled up in front of her aunt's house, James cut the engine but didn't move right away.

"I'll see you soon," he said.

"Promise?" she asked.

He looked at her and nodded. "I don't break promises."

He leaned over and kissed her gently—on the cheek this time, soft and lingering. Then he kissed her forehead and rested his against hers for one last moment.

"Go," she whispered, smiling. "Before I make you stay."

He laughed under his breath and stepped out. Sophie watched him drive away until his car disappeared at the end of the street.

When she finally walked inside, her heart was still full, her body still warm with memory.

She closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Outside, the sky threatened rain. But for Sophie, it didn't matter.

For the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't walking alone.

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