Morning arrived softly.
Ethan woke to sunlight warming his face and the sound of the coffee maker gurgling in the kitchen.
He blinked slowly, disoriented for a moment before memory returned—midnight sketching, Gabriel finding him, being gently dragged back to bed.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes. The clock read 6:47.
Early, but not as early as he usually felt after a restless night.
He found Gabriel in the kitchen, already dressed in slacks and a button-down, sleeves rolled to his elbows.
Two mugs sat on the counter, steam rising.
"Morning," Gabriel said, glancing over.
"Morning." Ethan moved to him, wrapping his arms around him from behind. "You let me sleep."
"You needed it." Gabriel's hand covered his. "Coffee's almost ready."
Ethan pressed his face against Gabriel's shoulder. "Thank you. For last night."
"You don't have to keep thanking me for caring about you." Gabriel turned in his arms, tilting Ethan's chin up. "How do you feel?"
