CHAPTER FOURTY - TWO - DETECTIVE HOLMES RUINS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.

Mateo woke slowly, his senses gradually stirring him from his slumber. The room was still dark, the sun just beginning to peek through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the bed. Beside him, she slept soundly, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. For a moment, he simply watched her face, the soft curve of her lips and the slight furrow of her brow. He reached out and gently smoothed the skin between her brows, careful not to wake her. She looked peaceful, almost angelic, and he felt a tug of emotion in his chest. He leaned in closer, his breath stirring a wisp of hair that had fallen across her face. He brushed it away gently, his finger tracing the soft line of her cheekbone. She shifted in her sleep, her eyelids fluttering ever so slightly, and he froze, not wanting to disturb her peaceful rest. He sighed softly, a hint of contentment and longing mixing in his breath. He had never expected to find himself here, in this moment, waking up next to