DAMIR
The morning sunlight filtered gently through the thick velvet curtains of Eli's bedroom, my arm was still wrapped securely around him, as if I feared he would slip away in the night. Eli breathed softly, chest rising and falling with such rhythmic grace that for a second, I forgot every problem in the world. I forgot the damn ledger. The threats. The betrayal. The lost sleep. All I could think of was how something so fragile could bring me this much peace.
His dark hair was slightly damp from the bath he took the night before, and his lashes lay like small fans against his cheeks. The duvet had slipped to his waist, revealing that soft expanse of porcelain skin I'd memorized with my lips more times than I could count. He was draped across me like a cat, his leg slung over my thigh, one hand resting on my bare chest. I didn't dare move.
I didn't want to wake him.
But soon enough, my baby stirred. A sleepy murmur left his lips as he turned his head slightly, pressing his face against the crook of my neck, and my heart just… melted. Fuck. I wasn't made to handle this kind of softness. Not after years of living a life where vulnerability was weakness. But here I was, rendered completely powerless by the warmth of a boy half my size.
I kissed the top of his head.
"Mmm…" he hummed, and then, with that usual hint of bratty charm, mumbled, "Why do you always wake up before me? That's not fair."
I chuckled lowly, brushing my fingers along his back. "Because I like watching you sleep. You look too peaceful. I can't resist."
Eli peeked up at me, one eye still half-lidded, and then gave the softest little smile. "Creep."
I let out a mock gasp. "Creep? Me? After everything I do for you?"
He giggled, pushing himself up and straddling my lap, the duvet now pooling at his hips. "Exactly. After everything you do. You earned the right to be a little creepy."
I swore under my breath and reached for him, pulling him into a deep, slow kiss. He melted against me, hands pressed against my chest, heart beating fast enough for me to feel. After a while, we parted, and he rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathing in each other's warmth.
"I got you something," I said, running my fingers down his side.
He raised a brow. "What now?"
"Ice cream. Fruit vanilla swril. The one you cried about last week."
His eyes lit up like a damn Christmas tree. "You didn't."
"I did."
He scrambled off me, wrapping the duvet around himself like a little cloak. "I'm gonna eat that right now."
"Right now?"
"Yeahhhhh need anything?"
"No I'm good"
I smirked as I sat up, watching him march toward the mini fridge near his closet like some sassy little prince in his kingdom. The next ten minutes were filled with the sound of spoons clinking and Eli's delighted humming as he settled back into my lap, bowl in hand, legs draped over mine.
He kept swirling the spoon, nibbling, then offering me a taste. I didn't even want it…I just liked how happy he looked when I took a bite. His hair was still messy, face glowing, mouth a little smudged with chocolate. I was so in love it made my chest ache.
"I want to go back to school," he said suddenly.
I blinked. "What?"
He glanced at me, like he knew I wouldn't take it lightly. "I miss it, My books. I wanna feel normal again."
I leaned back, brow furrowing. "Eli… with everything going on right now, do you think it's safe? You barely got out of that last mess. I'm not risking that again."
He pouted, placing the bowl on the side table. "I'll be fine. I'll be careful. I'll take a cab. Wear a hoodie. Sunglasses. The whole celebrity disguise thing."
I sighed. "Not good enough."
"You can't keep me locked up forever."
"Eli…"
"I'm not a porcelain doll!" he said, voice rising. "I know you love me. I know you want to protect me. But I feel like a bird in a cage."
Those words hit hard. I sat there, quiet, trying to find the right thing to say. He looked at me with fire in his eyes so determined, so stubborn. My little storm.
"I can't lose you," I said finally, my voice quieter.
He scooted closer, cupping my face. "And you won't. But I need to breathe, Damir. Please."
I stared into his eyes for a long moment. And I saw the boy I loved, not just the delicate body, not the pretty face but the soul. The one who stayed with me through pain (caused most of it), who forgave me more times than I deserved.
"Fine," I said, exhaling slowly. "But you're going with guards."
"No guards."
"Eli…."
"I'll stop by your office every day. Call you every hour. But no guards. I need to do this."
I gritted my teeth. "You drive a hard bargain, you know that?"
He grinned. "That's why you love me."
I groaned, pulling him into my arms again. "God help me."
We stayed like that for a long while, just holding each other. And for once, the world outside didn't exist. It was just us. Wrapped in warmth, love, and a thousand unspoken promises.
No matter what came next.