Absolutely — here's Chapter
Chapter 23: The Morning After and a Quiet Surprise
They were tangled in warmth and skin.
Julian's breath came quick, lips parted, eyes half-lidded as Elliot pressed gentle kisses along his jaw. Everything about the moment was soft and slow — the kind of intimacy they had both ached for.
But just when things could have tipped further — just when Julian whispered a trembling, "I want you" — Elliot paused.
His fingers stilled. His lips hovered just over Julian's collarbone.
And then, with a whisper softer than silk, he said, "No."
Julian blinked, heart skipping. "Wha—?"
Elliot looked into his eyes, brushing a thumb across his cheek.
"I want you so badly, Jules. But I want all of you — healthy, strong, steady. Not because you think you have to give me something back. Not when you're still healing."
Julian swallowed hard. "I—I thought I was ready."
"You are ready to be loved. To be held. To be safe," Elliot whispered. "But that doesn't mean we have to rush this part. I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to prove anything."
A tear slid from Julian's eye before he could stop it.
And Elliot kissed it away.
He curled Julian close, holding him like he was something sacred. "I love you. Let's just rest tonight, yeah?"
Julian nodded, burying his face into Elliot's neck. "Thank you for knowing what I needed before I did."
They fell asleep like that — Elliot wrapped around him, love folded into every breath.
---
The sun was still low when Julian stirred awake to the smell of something warm and buttery.
Elliot was in the kitchen, wearing sweatpants and one of Julian's oversized T-shirts, flipping pancakes like a pro.
"You should still be asleep," Elliot said without turning around, but his tone was full of a quiet smile.
Julian padded in, rubbing his eyes. "Could say the same to you."
"Made you breakfast. Banana pancakes, eggs, and tea. You didn't take your meds last night, so I set them out already."
"You're annoyingly perfect," Julian mumbled, voice raspy with sleep.
Elliot turned, leaned in, and kissed the top of his head. "I'll take that as a thank-you. Eat and rest, okay? I've got a long day at the firm."
Julian nodded. He sat down and ate, quiet but grateful.
And after Elliot kissed him goodbye, he stood in the doorway, watching until the elevator closed.
Then Julian got to work.
---
He didn't have much energy — not yet. But he used what he had carefully.
He cleaned the kitchen.
Set out a small vase of flowers he'd picked up from the corner market the day before.
He put fresh sheets on the bed — the dark navy ones Elliot loved — and laid Elliot's favorite cologne and a note on the pillow.
The note read:
> "For everything you've given me while I've healed — here's a piece of peace waiting for you at home."
He even queued Elliot's favorite record, so when he came in, soft jazz would welcome him home.
Julian didn't plan a grand gesture.
He planned a space.
A space where Elliot could finally exhale, the way Julian had so many times in his arms.