Absolution | +18

Chapter 60

Val

I woke up to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, the warm weight of Silas's arm draped over me. His hand rested gently on my stomach, where our little life was growing, and I couldn't help but smile.

Everything about this moment felt perfect—the quiet hum of the city outside, the warmth of the blankets, and the steady rhythm of Silas's breathing beside me. I shifted slightly to look at him, his face still relaxed in sleep, his hair tousled against the pillow. His expression was so peaceful, a stark contrast to the guarded, intense man he usually was when he was awake.

I watched him for a moment, soaking in the sight of him like this, so different from the brooding man I first met. He looked so... happy.

Gently, I moved my hand to rest on top of his, tracing small circles with my thumb. Almost instinctively, he stirred, his fingers tightening around mine as his eyes fluttered open. When his gaze met mine, a sleepy, loving smile spread across his face.

"Morning, Bambi," he murmured, his voice still husky from sleep.

"Morning," I whispered back, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. He kissed me back, slow and tender, like we had all the time in the world.

When we pulled back, Silas's eyes dropped to my stomach, and his smile grew wider. His hand moved a little, caressing the slight curve that was starting to show.

"How are my two favorite people doing?" he asked, his voice filled with so much warmth and love that it made my heart swell.

I chuckled softly, my hand still resting over his. "We're doing just fine. A little hungry, maybe," I teased, feeling a familiar growl in my stomach.

Silas laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. "Then I guess I'll have to take care of that," he said, shifting to sit up in bed. But before he could move, I grabbed his arm, pulling him back down beside me.

"Not yet," I said, snuggling closer to him. "Just stay here for a little while longer."

He didn't argue, instead wrapping his arm around me tighter, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. His lips found the top of my head, pressing a soft kiss into my hair.

"Whatever you want, Bambi," he whispered. "I'll stay right here."

We lay there like that, wrapped up in each other, not saying anything. Just enjoying the quiet, the warmth, and the feeling of being completely and utterly safe in each other's arms. For the first time in a long time, everything felt right. There were no shadows hanging over us, no fears lurking in the corners. Just us, in our own little world, waiting for the next chapter of our lives to unfold.

Then there's a sudden knock at the door. Silas's body tenses beside me, his hand slipping from my stomach as he sits up, blinking away the last traces of sleep. I can tell by the way his brows furrow that he wasn't expecting anyone this early.

"I'll get it," he murmurs, already moving toward the edge of the bed.

"I'm coming too," I say, tossing back the blankets and sliding my feet to the floor. Silas glances over his shoulder at me, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

"Trouble?" he says, amused, as I pull on one of his oversized hoodies to cover myself.

"Always," I shoot back with a grin, following him to the door.

When we open it, we're greeted by Seb and Lucas, both standing there with wide smiles. The second I see them, a wave of excitement washes over me.

"Hey, you two," Seb says, his eyes gleaming with that familiar mischief. Lucas stands beside him, looking as relaxed as ever but with a warmth that makes me feel instantly at ease.