I woke up to the quiet hum of the TV, the soft flicker of light casting shadows across the room.

Noah's arm was still wrapped around me, his chest rising and falling steadily beneath my head. For a second, I didn't move. His warmth was grounding, and the faint scent of his cologne still lingered in the air between us.

I shifted slightly, just enough to glance up at him. He wasn't asleep. His phone rested in his hand, but his attention wasn't really on the screen. His thumb lazily scrolled, eyes half-lidded and peaceful. When he noticed I was awake, his lips curved into a small smile.

"Hey," he murmured, voice low and rough from the quiet.

"Hey," I whispered back.

I didn't make any effort to move away. Neither did he. His arm stayed where it was, loosely holding me against him. I liked it. More than I wanted to admit.

"Lily and Jake?" I asked, even though I already had a feeling about the answer.

"Jake left a while ago. Lily's probably asleep upstairs."

I nodded, letting my eyes drift toward the screen. Some movie I didn't recognize was playing in the background. I couldn't focus on it. Not with the way Noah's thumb slowly brushed circles against my arm.

The room felt too still, the kind of stillness that made everything else louder – the sound of my own heartbeat, the slight shift of his breathing, the way our legs had somehow tangled together under the blanket.

"You okay?" Noah's voice broke the silence gently.

I looked up at him again, and something about the way he was watching me made my stomach flip. His eyes searched mine, waiting.

"I am," I said quietly. "I feel... calm."

That wasn't a lie. I did feel calm. But I also felt aware – of every inch of space between us and how small it had become.

For a while, neither of us said anything. The air between us shifted, heavier but not uncomfortable. Noah's hand trailed lightly down my back, slow and thoughtful, until his fingers rested just above my waist.

I didn't stop him.

His eyes flicked to mine again, questioning, but I didn't pull away.

Instead, I leaned in, just slightly, closing the small distance between us.

His lips brushed mine softly – hesitant at first, like he was giving me a chance to change my mind.

But I didn't.

I kissed him back.

And everything else seemed to fade away.

Noah's lips lingered against mine, soft and slow, like he had all the time in the world.
His hand rested on the small of my back, fingers brushing gently along the hem of my top. The warmth of his touch sent a quiet shiver through me, but I didn't pull away. If anything, I leaned in closer.

The movie still played in the background, but I barely noticed it anymore. The only thing I could focus on was the way Noah held me, like I was something delicate and important all at once.

When he finally pulled back, just enough to look at me, his eyes searched mine carefully.

"Come on," he whispered, voice barely louder than a breath.

Before I could ask what he meant, he shifted, sitting up with ease. His arms slid beneath me, lifting me effortlessly off the couch. A small laugh escaped me, but I wrapped my arms around his neck, resting my head against his shoulder.

"I can walk, you know."

"I know," he said, a soft grin tugging at his lips. "But I like carrying you."

His steps were slow as we made our way up the stairs, the house quiet around us. I could hear the faint creak of the floor beneath his feet, the steady rhythm of his breathing close to my ear.

By the time we reached his room, I felt my heart beating a little faster, though I wasn't sure if it was from the closeness or the way his hand pressed gently against the back of my thigh as he lowered me onto his bed.

The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the streetlights outside the window. I sat up slightly, resting back against the pillows as Noah knelt at the edge of the bed, watching me carefully, as if giving me a moment to change my mind.

But I didn't.

I reached for his hand, pulling him gently toward me.

"Stay?" I whispered, even though I already knew the answer.

Noah didn't say anything. He just leaned in, brushing his lips against mine again – soft, patient, and slow.