ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ꜰᴏᴜʀ

Akira POV

I watched him sleep, my fingers gently tracing through his hair. The way he was positioned couldn't be comfortable, yet he looked so peaceful. I tried to shift away, but his grip on my waist tightened, holding me in place. Damn, this guy was strong. I tried again, but after a few more attempts, I exhaled in resignation. His soft snores and the rhythmic sound of his breath against my neck filled the room. He was like a baby—completely unaware, innocent.

We stayed like that for what felt like half an hour, but my own discomfort was becoming overwhelming. I nudged him gently, hoping he'd shift, but he didn't budge. I tried again, and this time, he pulled me closer, guiding me back down on the bed so we were lying face-to-face, our bodies curled together like two pieces of a puzzle. He cuddled me like a giant teddy bear, and for some reason, the warmth of it made me feel more exposed than I cared to admit.

I tried to look at him, but the steady rhythm of his breathing told me he was still asleep.

He's actually really cute, I thought, a small smile tugging at my lips as I studied him. I quickly reminded myself, though: I can't like him. I had a purpose, things I needed to do—this was all temporary.

But despite my best efforts, my heart couldn't seem to calm down. His sharp nose, the way his smooth skin seemed to glow in the soft light it made the atmosphere feel strangely intimate, even though nothing was happening. I tried to focus, but every little detail about him kept pulling my attention.

I felt my breath quicken as I watched him, and it was hard to ignore the warmth that spread through me.

He looked so vulnerable in his sleep, like a child. The thought of it made something stir inside me. Suddenly, a notification from my phone broke my reverie. I made an attempt to sit up and check it, but Ciel's arm was still tightly around me.

I don't know if I can do this, I thought to myself. He's too sweet. After a few minutes of contemplation, he shifted slightly, rubbed his eyes, and sat up.

"Hey," I murmured, trying to hide the softness in my voice.

"Hello, I fell asleep," he said, his voice groggy with sleep. He loosened his grip around me and looked at me sheepishly. "I'm sorry."

I smiled, brushing it off. "Don't apologize," I replied, sitting up beside him.

I picked up my phone and saw a message from J. I opened it, my fingers pausing before I deleted it without responding.

Did you get the information yet? the message read.

I closed the app and locked my phone, trying to shake off the distraction.

"You want food?" Ciel asked, his voice light, as if trying to shift the mood.

I smirked, meeting his gaze with a teasing glint in my eyes. "Let's get married."

He froze, his cheeks turning a shade of pink. "W-what?" he stuttered, looking more flustered than I had expected.

I laughed, watching his embarrassment. "I was just joking," I said, giving him a reassuring smile. "Let's go. What do you want to eat?"

He shook his head, clearly relieved, and thought for a moment. "What about pizza?"

I nodded. "Sounds perfect."

We left the treehouse and made our way to a pizza place, the drive back to his place feeling oddly peaceful, Despite the quiet tension between us, with thoughts neither of us voiced, I couldn't help but notice how close we were..

"We eating at yours?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual, though I couldn't shake the thought of his brother. I didn't mind, but I wasn't ready to face him—not after what Ciel had told me. How could someone treat their own family like that?