I woke slowly, the warmth of the night still lingering in my skin, in my chest, in the quiet echo of him, of us.
I had never felt so… complete.
So certain.
So alive.
And yet, the world didn't pause for us.
There were schedules, routines, training, expectations, everything I had always moved through with precision and discipline.
I showered, dressed, and made my way to the arena.
Celeste waited patiently, her soft nostrils flaring as she caught my scent, unaware of the storm of feelings swirling within me.
Practice was rigorous, every jump, every turn, every trot measured and exact.
But even as I focused, even as my body moved with the familiar rhythm of horse and rider, my mind wandered.
To him.
Calix.
I felt his presence before I saw him.
The faint warmth in the air.
The soft click of the gate behind me.
The shadow that stretched across the arena floor.
He leaned against the fence, arms crossed casually, eyes fixed on me.
And for a moment, I froze, my heart skipping in a way it hadn't in years.
He smiled.
That slow, lazy grin that seemed to see right through me.
"You're… amazing," he said softly.
Not loud, not showy, just honest, intimate, meant only for me.
I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips.
"Thanks," I muttered, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
"Want a break?" he asked, his voice gentle, teasing.
I shook my head. "Not yet. But…" I paused, letting the words trail off.
"…it's good to see you."
He crossed the arena slowly, closing the distance between us.
"Good to see you too," he murmured, before stepping close enough that I could feel his warmth brush against mine.
Then, without hesitation, he pulled me into a hug.
Strong.
Safe.
Intimate.
The kind of hug that said I'm here.
I'm not leaving.
You don't have to be afraid.
I rested my head against his chest, letting the steady beat of his heart ground me.
For a moment, the world, expectations, pressure, routines, melted away.
There was only him.
Only this.
And then, just when I thought my heart couldn't feel any fuller, he leaned down.
His lips found mine in a soft, slow kiss, careful, patient, full of everything unspoken.
I melted into it, letting the warmth and tenderness sweep through me.
Every doubt, every fear, every guarded wall I had built came crashing down in the quiet safety of his embrace.
When we finally pulled apart, our foreheads resting together, he whispered,
"You're mine. Always."
I smiled softly, closing my eyes.
"Always," I echoed, letting the word sink into every corner of my heart.