The morning sun was warm, filtering softly through the soft curtains and casting long, golden bars across the large bed. Beneath the tangled sheets, Julian shifted slightly, melting into the solid, radiating heat of Alaric's naked body.
Their limbs were still lazily intertwined from the night before, their skin warm where it pressed together. Julian let out a soft, contented sigh, leaning his forehead against the Duke's strong collarbone.
He absolutely loved this feeling. It had been so long since they had been able to just hold each other like this, basking in the quiet stillness of the morning without a ticking clock or a looming catastrophe hanging over their heads.
Alaric's large hand rubbed slow, heavy circles into Julian's lower back, his thumb catching the edge of his hip. His sharp blue eyes were open, softened by sleep but filled with a quiet, grounding adoration as he looked down at his partner.
