Chapter16:

_Leah's POV_ I woke up the next morning feeling unusually warm and safe. As my mind slowly cleared from the remnants of sleep, I realized why. Tariq's arms were wrapped protectively around me. He was holding me close. My heart skipped a beat. How had we ended up like this? I barely remembered falling asleep, but somehow, during the night, we had shifted closer. I turned my head slightly, careful not to wake him, and looked up at his face. He was still asleep. His breathing was soft and even. His usually sharp features were relaxed, and for a moment, I allowed myself to admire him. He looked so peaceful, so different from the confident man he usually was. My cheeks heated as I realized just how intimate this moment felt. I had never been this close to anyone, let alone Tariq. The warmth of his body pressed against mine made my heart race. I didn’t want to wake him up, but the longer I stayed in his arms, the more aware I became of the tension building inside me. Slowly, I tried to move