Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: The Golden River Beneath the Stars

For a long time, the only sounds that filled the air were soft, broken whimpers, like the piteous mewling of a wounded animal. It took a considerable while for the turbulent tides of emotion crashing against the shores of Julian Sterling's heart to finally recede. The sheer exhaustion of the emotional release left him feeling physically drained, his limbs heavy and his spirit raw. Yet, despite the cessation of his tears, he stubbornly refused to pull away. Instead, he buried his face deeper into the firm, comforting warmth of Ethan Caldwell's chest, seeking refuge from the world outside their little bubble. He clung to the man, unwilling to emerge from the sanctuary he had found, wishing he could simply dissolve into this embrace and forget everything else.