Night Owl

Night Owl Ch. 18

A soft stir. Jin blinked awake, the weight of Rae nestled against his chest, her breaths steady but her eyes barely shut, more resting than truly asleep. His gaze lingered on her, tracing the delicate features relaxed against him.

"You're finally up," she murmured, her voice quiet but teasing as her lashes lifted to meet his gaze.

His lips curled into a smile, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Sorry for crashing on you."

Her lips twitched, a playful glint dancing in her eyes. "Only a twenty minute nap—must be a record for you. Usually, you're out cold."

She gave his chest a soft tap, her small fist barely making a dent, but it was enough to make him chuckle. His fingers tightened slightly around her, thumb brushing circles against her shoulder as he searched her face.

"So..." he began, voice low, unsure. "Do you feel... any different?"

She tilted her head, a subtle shift, her eyes searching his face. "Not really," she replied, thoughtful, almost to herself. "I can feel something shifting, but... it's mostly the same."

The warmth of her began to fade slightly, her skin cooling beneath his touch. He tightened his arms, his heartbeat a little quicker, the pulse heavy as he tried to steady his breath.

Her hand pressed to his chest, her eyes narrowing with concern. "Your heart... it's racing."

His breath hitched, voice barely above a whisper. "You're... going to forget me, Rae. Soon, you won't even remember this."

Her gaze softened, fingers tracing slow, soothing circles against his chest. "Not forever. When it all comes back, this... this moment, I'll remember and I'll come rushing back to you."

A faint smile tugged at her lips, warm but carrying a hint of something else—a quiet assurance that he wanted so much to believe in, but doubt crept in, heavy as a storm cloud.

"What if... what if you love someone else by then? What if it takes years?" His voice trembled, a faint shiver resonating from his chest to hers, the words weaving between them as she rested her head against him, catching the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Jin's brow lifted, an uncertain smile dancing at the edge of his lips. Rae's eyes met his, steady and sure, her voice carrying a warmth that seemed to melt the space between them.

"Jin," she murmured, fingers weaving through his as she leaned in, pressing her lips to his chest, "it's not like there's a line for vampire women. And no one could ever make me feel what you do."

A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest as he pulled the blanket over them, his arms tightening around her, savoring the warmth of her body nestled close. For a moment, the world beyond the sheets seemed to dissolve, leaving only their intertwined fingers and the quiet rise and fall of their breathing.

"How much time?" he whispered, his voice barely breaking the silence, the concern etched into the lines of his face.

Her fingers traced a soothing path across his chest. "We had six hours when we left the hospital. That was three hours ago, so maybe two and a half now... to be safe."

He exhaled slowly, the weight of the ticking hours settling between them. Her heartbeat—still beating, still hers—thudded faintly against him, a reminder of what they were holding onto.

She smiled softly, her gaze brushing his as they spoke of their dreams—of a life where love stretched into a future, a grand wedding, children dancing at their feet, a life somewhere quiet, far from the pulse of the city.

But the minutes slipped away, pulling at them with an undeniable gravity. Jin's gaze drifted to the clock, and reality seeped in like the first chill of morning. He sighed, reaching for her hand as she slid on a hoodie, her fingers tugging him upright with a gentle firmness.