Page 183 of Madness & Mercy

When Julian finally slumps forward, bracing a hand on the wall above me, I stay on my knees, licking my lips slowly before pressing a kiss to the inside of his thigh.

“You look fucking wrecked,” I murmur, my voice dark with satisfaction. My hand drags lazily up his calf, fingers tracing the tremor in his muscles. “I could stay down here all night just worshipping you.”

He lets out a breathless laugh, his eyes half-lidded as he stares down at me. “Don’t start with your smooth talk now. I can barely stand after that.”

I smirk against his skin, my lips brushing higher. “You love it.”

We change into our sleepwear and collapse into bed, listening to the sound of the waves lapping against the yacht, the wind tugging at the sails. For once, there’s no blood, no enemies—just the two of us, caught in the calm.

“You’re gonna be the death of me, Vitale,” Julian sighs, almost smiling.

I press a kiss to the crown of his head, breathing him in.“Then I’ll die with you.”

Julian makes a quiet sound, somewhere between a scoff and a sigh, and sinks deeper against me. His head finds its place on my chest, his breath warm and even against my skin. I can feel the tension bleeding out of him with every exhale, his body softening in my arms like he finally believes he’s safe.

I wrap my arm around him tighter, pressing my lips to his hair one last time. The yacht rocks gently beneath us, the ocean carrying us everywhere and nowhere all at once.

Because right now, there’s nothing left to fight. Not the world. Not each other.

Julian’s breathing evens out, sleep dragging him under. I keep my eyes open, listening to the water and the wind, keeping watch the way I always do. Because no matter how much peace he finds in me, I’ll never stop guarding him.

If this is insanity, then I’ll burn in it with him. If loving him is madness, then let me lose my mind forever.

Because mercy, in the end, is just the shape of his hand in mine.