For a moment, Kade did not move. He simply stood just inside the doorway, his gaze fixed on them, taking in the quiet intimacy of the scene in a way that required no thought to understand. It was natural. Effortless. And something about that effortless harmony made it difficult to look away, as though he had stumbled upon a secret the night had not meant for him to witness.
He stepped closer. Slowly. Carefully.
The mattress dipped slightly as he sat at the edge of the bed, his movements controlled enough not to disturb either of them. His hand lifted instinctively, brushing gently against Dakota's face, moving a stray strand of hair away from where it had fallen across her cheek. The touch was light, measured, yet it lingered a second longer than necessary, as if committing the warmth of her skin to memory.
"Good night," he murmured quietly, his voice low enough not to break the sacred silence of the room.
