The first light of dawn crept into the room, casting a golden glow across the walls.
Ethan stirred, his body naturally waking before the alarm ever had a chance to ring.
He blinked a few times, adjusting to the soft morning light, before realizing there was a comfortable weight pressing against his chest.
Vanessa.
Her dark hair spilled across the pillow, her face nestled against his shoulder.
Her breath was soft, steady, her chest rising and falling with the rhythm of sleep.
And she was snoring. Lightly.
Ethan smirked.
For someone as fiery and headstrong as Vanessa, seeing her like this — so peaceful, so unguarded — was something he had started looking forward to every morning.
Nobody would ever be able to see this except for him after all.
Careful not to wake her, he shifted slightly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face before pressing a light kiss to her cheek.
