The morning light crept through the curtains, a pale gold wash spilling across tangled sheets.
The city was already awake outside, but here, in this room, time moved differently—slower, softer.
Ethan stirred first. His nose scrunched at the unfamiliar soreness that made him shift carefully.
A low groan escaped before he could swallow it back.
From beside him, Gabriel's voice hummed, still gravelly with sleep. "Don't tell me you're regretting it already."
Ethan cracked one eye open. Gabriel was awake, lying on his side, head propped on one arm, watching him like he'd been doing it for a while. His hair was a little messy, his expression maddeningly calm.
"Regretting?" Ethan croaked, stretching out an arm, then immediately wincing. "I'm ruined. Completely. My poor body's filing a complaint."
Gabriel's lips curved. He reached out, brushing his thumb lightly along Ethan's cheek. "You survived."
