Ariana didn't know how long she stayed in Damian's embrace.
Minutes?
Maybe an hour?
Time felt different when she was held by him—
safer, quieter, warmer.
Eventually, Damian shifted slightly, brushing her hair away from her face.
"You should rest," he murmured.
Ariana nodded, though her eyes stayed on him—
as if letting him out of her sight would break the fragile peace settling between them.
Damian saw it.
He hesitated… then asked softly:
"Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?"
Ariana swallowed.
Her voice barely came out:
"…Yes."
Damian didn't comment on how shy she sounded, or how she looked away slightly.
He simply stood and walked around to the other side of the bed.
Ariana's breath hitched.
He was really staying.
Damian slid off his jacket, loosened the first few buttons of his shirt, and sat carefully at the edge of the mattress—
as if afraid of overwhelming her.
Ariana shifted closer to the center.
He lay down slowly, giving her space.
But the moment she felt the bed dip under his weight, the room seemed to breathe differently.
Warmth.
Security.
Presence.
Ariana curled on her side, facing him.
Damian didn't reach for her.
He didn't force closeness.
He waited.
She stared at him—
his sharp jaw, his dark lashes, the faint shadow of exhaustion under his eyes.
He looked less like a feared CEO right now
and more like a tired man trying to hold the world together.
"Damian…?"
His eyes opened at once.
"Yes?"
Ariana hesitated, then said the one thing she'd been too shy to ask:
"Can I… be closer?"
Damian's expression softened instantly—
almost painfully.
"Come here," he whispered.
Ariana scooted forward slowly, her heart racing.
When she reached him, Damian lifted his arm and let her settle against his chest.
Her cheek rested over his heartbeat—
steady, strong, grounding.
Damian wrapped his arm around her waist gently, not trapping her…
just holding her close enough that she felt safe.
Ariana exhaled softly.
"This feels nice," she whispered.
Damian's fingers brushed lightly down her back.
"It's the only peace I've had all day," he murmured.
Ariana smiled softly against his chest.
Being this close, hearing his heartbeat, feeling his warmth—
it eased something inside her she didn't even know was hurting.
A long moment passed in silence.
Then Damian said quietly,
"Ariana… when I told you I was falling for you… I meant it."
Her breath caught.
She didn't lift her head.
She couldn't.
Her heart was beating too fast.
He continued:
"I don't expect you to feel the same. Not now. Not yet. But I want you to know I'm not confused. I'm not acting on impulse."
Ariana whispered:
"I never thought you were."
Damian's thumb stroked her arm slowly.
"You make me want to protect something again."
Ariana closed her eyes.
"You make me feel safe," she whispered back.
A soft breath escaped his chest—one of relief.
"Sleep," he murmured.
"You're safe tonight. I'm right here."
Ariana's eyes grew heavier.
Her hand slid gently across his shirt, holding it lightly.
Her last words before drifting into sleep were barely audible:
"Goodnight… Damian."
Damian pressed a soft, almost invisible kiss to the top of her head.
"Goodnight, Ariana."
And for the first time since their marriage—
Ariana fell asleep in his arms.
And Damian slept too.
Because holding her… was the first time he'd felt peace in years.