Grounding.
I turned to him as we reached the car.
“Drive me somewhere?”
He didn’t question it.
Just nodded.
The city lights faded behind us.
The road curved.
Climbed.
Until finally-
We stopped.
It looked like something out of a dream.
A small boutique hotel-
Perched right beside a cliff.
Overlooking the ocean.
Soft lights glowing like stars scattered across its structure.
Elegant.
Whimsical.
Almost unreal.
“It looks like a fairytale,” Jason murmured.
༥༽
+15 8chus
2/10
I smiled.
I stepped out of the car.
Breathing it in.
“This is my favorite property.”
He glanced at me-
Surprised.
“I had it built.”
A small laugh escaped me.
“Since I was little, I always dreamed of living like a princess… even just for a while.”
His gaze softened.
The place was quiet.
Empty.
But perfectly maintained.
Not abandoned-
Protected.
“It’s not open to the public,” I added.
“It’s just… mine.’
A pause.
“My escape.”
I led him inside.
Through soft-lit corridors.
Warm wood.
Gentle colors.
Until we reached-
A small kitchen.
Cozy.
Inviting.
Lived-in.
I moved instinctively.
+15 Bonus
3/10
Filling a kettle.
Setting things out.
Jason leaned against the counter-
Watching.
Quiet.
Present.
“Hungry?” I asked.
He huffed a small laugh.
“…a little.”
I made tea.
Simple.
Familiar.
Then-
Pancakes.
The scent filled the space quickly.
Warm.
Comforting.
We ate at the small table.
No titles.
No expectations.
Just us.
I watched him for a moment.
Really watched him.
Then-
Spoke.
“I feel different here.”
He looked up.
“How?”
I hesitated-
Then smiled softly.
+15 Bonus
4/10
“I feel like I can be myself.”
Apause.
“Less guarded.”
My fingers traced the rim of my cup.
“More carefree.”
I met his eyes.
“Happy.”
Silence followed.
But it wasn’t empty.
It was full.
Of something steady.
Something real.
I wasn’t thinking about the future.
Or the past.
Or the war waiting for us.
I was just there.
With him.
And that-
Felt like peace.
The quiet wrapped around us.
Soft.
Safe.
For a moment-
I forgot everything else.
Until Jason spoke.
“We should stay.”
I looked up at him.
“Tonight.”
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Just certainty.
༢༨༽
+15 Bonus
5/10
“Like it’s something only a child would like?”
The words felt strange-
Even as I said them.
Jason laughed.
Warm.
Genuine.
And before I could react-
He pulled me into him.
Strong arms wrapping around me.
Grounding.
Comforting.
“Amber,” he murmured.
“Anyone would love this place.
His chin rested lightly over my head.
“I love this place.” 1
That made me look up.
Really look at him.
His expression-
Soft.
Almost boyish.
“For the first time in a long time…”
He glanced around.
“…I feel like I’m in a story.”
A small breath.
“Like I’m some knight in a fairy tale.”
My heart tightened.
In the best way.
He looked back at me.
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