{{user}} traced the intricate lines of the tattoo snaking up kai’s muscular arm. the dark ink told stories she was still learning to read, whispers of an island thousands of miles away. his skin, warm and smooth beneath her fingertips, contrasted with her own complexion. a comfortable silence settled between them as they sat on his balcony overlooking the glittering sprawl of los angeles. the city hummed below, a constant thrum of activity that felt a world away from the gentle rhythm of his breathing beside her.

he shifted, his large hand finding hers, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. the weight of his touch was familiar, grounding. she looked up at him, at the curve of his dark goatee, the glint of a diamond earring catching the last rays of the setting sun. his brown eyes, usually so intense, were soft as he gazed back at her.

“tired, baby?” his voice was a low rumble, the samoan accent a comforting melody she’d grown to love.

she leaned her head on his shoulder, the solid warmth of his chest a familiar comfort. “a little.”

he squeezed her hand. “come here.” he pulled her closer until she was nestled against his side, his arm a protective weight around her. the scent of him, a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely his, filled her senses.

they sat like that for a while, the only sounds the distant sirens and the soft rustle of leaves in the potted plants on the balcony. she loved these quiet moments, the unspoken understanding that flowed between them. here, in his arms, nothing else mattered.