Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 23

I blinked awake, the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. For a second, I was disoriented—confused by the unfamiliar surroundings, the way everything seemed softer, quieter.

And then I felt it—the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek, the warmth of his body curled around mine.

Rafe.

I stiffened slightly, my heart skipping a beat as I glanced up at him. He was already awake, his gaze fixed on me, his eyes soft and almost... peaceful. For a moment, I just stared at him, trying to make sense of it—trying to understand how someone who could be so harsh, so volatile, could look so gentle.

"You're awake," I murmured softly, my voice thick with sleep.

A faint smile tugged at his lips, the corners of his mouth lifting in a way that made my chest tighten. "Yeah."

I shifted slightly, my gaze flickering to the clock on the nightstand. It was early—too early. "How long have you been up?"

His smile widened just a fraction, his gaze never leaving mine. "A while."

I frowned, the confusion twisting through me like a knot. "You... you've just been lying here?"

"Yeah," he murmured softly, his voice low and almost shy. "I was... watching you sleep."

I blinked, the words taking a moment to sink in. And then, slowly, the confusion melted away, replaced by something else—something that felt a lot like embarrassment.

"You were watching me?" I asked incredulously, my cheeks heating. "Like a creep?"

Rafe let out a low chuckle, the sound rough and warm, sending a strange shiver down my spine. "Yeah," he admitted, a faint, almost sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Like a creep."

I rolled my eyes, a soft laugh escaping my lips despite myself. "You're unbelievable."

"Probably," he murmured softly, his gaze still locked onto mine, his eyes tracing the curve of my face like he was memorizing every detail.

The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, but not uncomfortable. Not like it usually was. There was something different about it—something warmer, softer.

"What?" I muttered, shifting slightly, suddenly self-conscious under his intense gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Rafe shrugged slightly, his lips curving into a small, almost wistful smile. "I just... I like looking at you."

I felt my heart skip a beat, my breath catching in my throat. "You're such a weirdo," I muttered, shaking my head slowly.

"Probably," he agreed softly, his voice low and filled with something I couldn't quite name—something that made my chest ache.

I let out another soft laugh, the sound breaking through the thick silence, and reached up to gently brush a stray lock of hair away from his forehead. "If you're going to keep watching me sleep, at least don't look so creepy while you do it."

He grinned, his eyes bright with something dangerously close to amusement. "No promises."

I rolled my eyes again, but I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. "You're impossible."

"Maybe," he murmured softly, his gaze softening. "But you're still here."

The words hung between us, heavy and unspoken, and I felt my heart twist painfully in my chest. He was right. I was still here—still lying beside him, still touching him, still letting him in.