Chapter 1
(Present)
It had been a productive day at the conference, and Laurus had nothing to complain about—except that her expensive leather shoes had waged war on her feet, rubbing her raw with every step. Now that the event was over, she sat on a bench outside the building, her many bags of goodies from the exhibition booths piled beside her.
With a sigh of relief, she slipped her feet out of her shoes and leaned back, gazing up at the twinkling stars, their soft glow reflecting the warmth settling in her chest.
The cool night air, combined with exhaustion, soon made her eyelids heavy. Her head began to droop, and just as she was about to topple over, a pair of warm hands gently cradled her face.
Blinking sleepily, Laurus looked up to see a familiar and beloved presence. She yawned, righted herself, and opened her arms for a hug.
Zeki bent down, gathering her effortlessly into his arms before settling her onto his lap. Resting his chin on her head, he whispered softly into her ear, "What are you doing out here, Bay bay?"
Laurus smiled drowsily. "Just taking a breather and making sure my foot is still attached. The conference went well, but my shoes were unreasonably cruel."
Zeki frowned, his brows knitting together as he took her foot in his hands. Gently, as if she were something delicate, irreplaceable, he inspected the identical scrapes on both sides of her feet.
Sliding her off his lap, he knelt in front of her, his touch reverent as he cradled one foot in his palm.
Laurus leaned forward, smoothing the crease between his brows. "It's not as bad as it looks," she reassured him. "But I don't think I can walk home in those shoes."
Without a word, Zeki reached into his pocket and pulled out a teddy bear-shaped bandage, peeling it open with practiced ease before deftly securing it over the abrasion.
He then lowered his head, about to press a kiss to her wound—but Laurus quickly cupped his chin, stopping him.
"Don't," she murmured. "My feet have been working hard all day. They're probably not the freshest."
Zeki only chuckled. Instead, he nuzzled her palm, pressing a kiss into its center.
"I love every part of you, Bay Bay. Don't deny me this."
Laurus's face flamed as she covered it with both hands, a giggle escaping her lips when she felt warm pressure against the bandaid. Even after all this time, he still had the power to make her feel like a schoolgirl hopelessly in love.
Zeki watched her with quiet adoration, his heart swelling.
His entire world existed within this woman—her laughter, her warmth, the way she always held onto him just a little longer than necessary.
Smirking at her flustered state, he peeled her hands away from her face and wrapped them around his neck.
"Ready to go home, Bay Bay?" he whispered.
She nodded, eyes wide and shining.
"Hold on tight, then."
Zeki scooped her up once more, balancing her effortlessly with one arm while gathering her bags with the other.
"Wait! What about my shoes?" she asked, startled.
"We're donating them," he said simply, already walking. "They shouldn't have hurt you in the first place."
"But Z, they're so pretty! Can't we bring them back?" she pleaded, batting her eyelashes.
Zeki sighed—soft, indulgent, helpless against her.
"You're impossible."
Still, he stooped down and picked up the offending shoes. As he adjusted his grip, Laurus nestled her head against his shoulder.
"Z?" she murmured sleepily.
"Hmm?"
"Sing something for the road home?"
Zeki's lips curved into a smile before he began humming, his voice deep and soothing, a melody meant only for her.
Each step of the way home felt light, despite the comforting weight in his arms. As long as she was with him, everything felt effortless.
When they arrived at their quaint little apartment, Zeki unlocked the door and carried her straight into their bedroom, setting her down with the kind of care reserved for precious things.
"Bay, you can let go now." Intending to tuck her in before going about some night work.
Laurus blinked sleepily up at him, then tightened her hold instead, pulling his ear closer to her lips.
"Or," she murmured, "you could just join me."
Zeki didn't stand a chance.
The bags dropped to the floor with a soft thud as he slipped beneath the covers with her, drawn to her warmth like a tide pulled by the moon.
As soon as he settled, Laurus snuggled into him, fitting against him like a missing puzzle piece. A tiny, satisfied sigh left her lips, followed by her distinctive kitten-like purr of deep sleep.
Zeki lay there, watching her, memorizing the soft rise and fall of her breath.
She was everything to him.
And though he would never say it out loud, he knew.
Loving her wasn't just a choice.
It was inevitable.
It was his only certainty in this world.
With a soft exhale, Zeki pressed a kiss to her forehead, smoothing a stray strand of hair from her face.
As the night wore on, his thoughts of Laurus slowly blended into his dreams.
