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The quiet.

The warmth.

The simple, dangerous sense of rightness settling into my bones.

Last night hadn’t been planned.Not like that.I’d wanted to feed her, give her a place to breathe, maybe make her laugh.I hadn’t expected to claim her.

I didn’t regret it.

Not for a second.

But I also knew something she didn’t.

I knew about the loan shark and the debt.

And watching her keep working herself into the ground was starting to eat at me.

Belle stirred at four forty-five and shifted against me with a soft sound that went straight through my chest.She blinked a few times, disoriented, then her eyes focused on me.“Hi,” she murmured.

“Morning,” I said quietly.

She smiled, slow and sleepy, and tucked herself closer.“I didn’t dream it.”

“No,” I said.“You didn’t.”

Her fingers traced idle patterns on my chest, and I fought the urge to roll us over and start the day very differently.

Instead, I brushed my thumb along her jaw.“How do you feel?”

She considered.“Tired.But… good.”

Good.

I pressed a kiss to her forehead and carefully disentangled myself, ignoring Pepper’s disgruntled huff when the mattress shifted.

“I need to get going,” Belle mumbled.

“I know, doll,” I said.“I’m going to go start the coffee.Sleep for ten more minutes, and then I’ll drive you.”

She smiled and rolled onto her stomach, immediately half-asleep again.

I stood there for a second, watching her breathe, then turned and headed for the kitchen.

I moved quietly, not wanting to wake her.I knew it was only a few extra minutes of sleep, but I knew every minute counted for Belle right now.The house smelled faintly like sugar and her shampoo, a combination I hadn’t known I needed until now.

When I glanced out the window, the world was still asleep.Christmas lights across the street blinked lazily, and for once, they didn’t annoy me.

I leaned against the counter, mug warming my hands, and let my thoughts settle where they didn’t want to go.

I should tell her.

Every instinct I had said honesty mattered.That keeping this from her was a mistake waiting to happen.But timing mattered too, and Belle was fragile in a way she didn’t let anyone see.

She needed rest.Space.The chance to realize she wasn’t drowning anymore before I explained why.

Footsteps padded softly behind me.

“Smells good,” Belle said, her voice still rough with sleep.