chapter 19

The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on Arjun’s sleeping form. His chest rose and fell steadily, his face relaxed in peaceful slumber, a stark contrast to the restless tossing and turning he had done earlier. Elias Matthews sat on the edge of the bed, his usual commanding presence softened into something more vulnerable as he watched Arjun.

Elias’s gaze swept over the room—the room that was supposed to be his home office but had been repurposed into a bedroom on a whim. The reason he had offered it to Arjun wasn’t just convenience, as he’d led Sophia to believe earlier. No one knew about the hidden door connecting this room to his own, concealed behind the large wardrobe that stood against the wall. It had been a secret known only to Elias, a practical addition he had designed in case he ever changed his mind about the layout of the house.

Tonight, he was thankful for that decision.

Elias leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes tracing the gentle curve of Arjun’s face. His hair was slightly mussed from tossing on the pillow, and his lips parted slightly as he exhaled in deep, unguarded sleep. A wave of warmth coursed through Elias, his possessiveness tempered by something softer—something he rarely allowed himself to feel.

The thought of Arjun moving into this house, of them building a life together, had been hovering at the edges of Elias’s mind for days. Now, sitting here in the quiet of the night, it consumed him entirely.

When they became a couple—and Elias refused to entertain the idea of "if"—he would offer Arjun this same room. It would be perfect. They would share a bedroom, of course, but Arjun could retreat here when he needed space, privacy, or solitude. Yet, even then, Elias would have access, the hidden door ensuring they were never truly apart.

The thought made him smile—a rare, genuine expression that softened the sharp angles of his face.

Elias’s mind wandered to the possibilities of their future. He pictured lazy Sunday mornings with Arjun curled up beside him, their laughter echoing through the house. He imagined dinners with his family, Arjun charming everyone as he always did, and quiet nights spent in each other's arms, the rest of the world forgotten.

His chest tightened with longing, a mix of love, passion, and a fierce need to protect. Watching Arjun sleep, so unaware of the storm of emotions he stirred within him, Elias felt a profound sense of gratitude. He was thankful for his own foresight, for the hidden door, for the decisions that brought Arjun into his life.

Reaching out, Elias brushed a stray strand of hair from Arjun’s forehead, his fingers barely grazing his skin. The touch was feather-light, but it sent a jolt through him.

Arjun suddenly mumbled in his sleep, the words barely coherent, but Elias’s name slipped through.

“Elias…” Arjun whispered softly, his breath warm against the pillow.

Elias froze, his heart skipping a beat. His breath hitched as he processed the sound of his name on Arjun’s lips, even in the haze of his dreams.

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me, do you?” Elias murmured softly, his voice barely audible over the silence.

Arjun stirred slightly, mumbling something unintelligible in his sleep before settling again. Elias chuckled under his breath, the sound low and warm.

“Sleep well, Arjun,” he whispered, his voice carrying a promise. “You’ll understand soon enough. I’ll make sure of it.”

Elias stood, his movements careful not to disturb the sleeping man. He took one last lingering look before retreating to his own room. Closing the hidden door behind him, he leaned against it, his heart pounding in his chest.

This was no fleeting infatuation. It wasn’t just desire, though that was certainly part of it. This was deeper—something undeniable and irrevocable.

Elias Matthews didn’t just want Arjun in his life. He needed him, in every sense of the word. And he would do whatever it took to make sure Arjun understood that too.