30. A Sweet Moment

After he fell asleep, Jayden stirred as a warm, honeyed breath grazed his face, pulling him from the depths of slumber beneath the sprawling oak tree. A strange, intoxicating sweetness traveled through the air, forcing his heavy eyelids to part. His vision swam with hazy shapes before sharpening just enough to capture a shadow hovering nearby. As sunlight filtered through the canopy, it illuminated a face—exquisite and radiant, as if carved by the light itself. Her sleek, flawless skin shimmered in the dappled golden glow. Compelled by an unseen force, his hand moved instinctively. His thumb brushed the curve of her cheek, his touch feather-light yet electric. His fingers trailed to her neck, slipping beneath her silken hair as if drawn by the rhythm of her quickened breath. He leaned closer, their faces mere inches apart, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. The steady drum of her heartbeat thundered against his senses, each beat a desperate call, pulling him in. He