Natalya looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Viper..." she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She snuggled closer, her hand resting on my chest, right over my heart. "I love you too... more than you'll ever know."
Her breath was warm against my skin, and I could feel her heartbeat, steady and strong, matching the rhythm of my own. The closeness, the intimacy of the moment, was overwhelming. Here, in this small hospital bed, with our bodies pressed together and our hearts beating in sync, everything else faded away. The lies, the secrets, the dangers of our world—none of it mattered in this moment.
I stroked her hair gently, my fingers tangling in the soft strands. "Sleep, Natalya," I whispered. "I've got you."
She closed her eyes, her breath evening out as she drifted off to sleep, her grip on my clothes tightening slightly.
