My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Raelynn shifted, turning from the bright light, realizing groggily it was morning. She blinked a few times, letting the world come into focus. Her first thought was how comfortable she felt, the sheets warm against her skin, it was like her body was floating in a bubble of tranquility.

She stretched slightly, expecting to find herself alone, but froze when she felt the firm grip on her waist. Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head cautiously, her breath hitching when her eyes landed on Elion.

He was lying next to her, his face inches away, his hand still resting on her waist as though anchoring her in place. His hair was slightly mussed, and his features were relaxed in sleep, making him look less like the sharp, enigmatic man she was used to.

Raelynn's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she stared at him, memories of the previous night flooding back unbidden. The kisses, the way he touched her, the way he made her feel—it all came rushing back, overwhelming her senses. She bit her lip, unsure whether to blame Sloane for convincing her to watch that ridiculous movie or be grateful for the experience that had left her breathless.

"It's supposed to mean nothing," she muttered under her breath. Yet, even as she said it, a part of her couldn't deny how much she had enjoyed every moment.

Elion stirred then, his grip on her waist tightening briefly before his eyes slowly opened. Raelynn froze, her breath catching in her throat as his gaze met hers. For a moment, neither of them said anything, the silence stretching between them like a fragile thread.

His voice was low and rough with sleep when he finally spoke. "Did you sleep well?"

Raelynn nodded quickly, her voice coming out softer than she intended. "Yeah… I did. Did you?"

Elion's lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze still locked on hers. "I did," he replied simply.

Another silence followed, loaded with words neither dared to say. Raelynn's heart was pounding so loudly she was sure Elion could hear it. His hand moved slightly, his fingers brushing against the fabric of her shirt where it rested on her waist.

Then, without warning, he reached up, his fingers lightly tracing the line of her jaw. The touch was so soft, so careful, that Raelynn's breath hitched. Her eyes widened as his face inched closer to hers, the space between them shrinking with every passing second.

"Elion…" she whispered, her voice trembling as her heart raced.

He didn't respond, his gaze flickering to her lips. Raelynn braced herself, her entire body tensing in anticipation of what was to come. But just as their lips were about to meet, a sharp knock sounded at the door, breaking the moment like a shattered glass.

Before either of them could react, the door swung open, and Hera stepped in, a bright smile on her face. "Good morning, Raelynn! I—"

Her words died in her throat as her eyes took in the scene before her. Her gaze flickered from Raelynn's flushed face to Elion, who was still lying close to her, his hand lingering on her waist. His eyes narrowed, sending Hera a clear message without saying a word. Hera's mouth fell open, and a faint pink tint spread across her cheeks.

"Oh!" Hera exclaimed, her hands flying up in surrender. "I'll just—uh—pretend I didn't see anything. Carry on, you two. I was never here."

"Hera, wait—" Raelynn started, raising her hand as if to stop her.

But Hera was already backing out of the room, her expression a mix of embarrassment and amusement, but a rare teasing smile breaking through her usual seriousness. She closed the door quickly, leaving Raelynn and Elion alone once more.

Raelynn groaned, burying her face in her hands. "She totally misunderstood," she mumbled, her voice muffled.

Elion raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching in amusement. "What exactly did she misunderstand?"

Raelynn lowered her hands, gesturing between them. "This. Us. She probably thinks we…" Her voice trailed off, her cheeks reddening further.

Elion's smirk deepened, his expression teasing. "Isn't that what we're doing?"

Raelynn's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What? No! We—" She shook her head, trying to gather her thoughts. "Last night doesn't mean anything. It was just… the movie. It probably got to us. That's all."

She pushed the covers aside, sitting up quickly and avoiding his gaze. "I'll just think of it as nothing," she added, more to herself than to him.

Elion didn't say anything, his smirk fading as he watched her. His expression shifted slightly, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. Raelynn glanced at him briefly, catching the look on his face, but she couldn't decipher what it meant.

Without giving him a chance to respond, she stood and walked to the bathroom, her movements hurried and slightly clumsy. Once inside, she closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as she let out a shaky breath.

Turning to the sink, she splashed cold water on her face, hoping to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. As she reached for a towel, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, her reflection a mix of confusion and something she didn't want to name.

She paused, her hands gripping the edge of the sink as her thoughts raced. In the corner of her mind, she replayed the look she had seen on Elion's face just before she walked away. It was brief, fleeting, but it stayed with her.

"Was that… disappointment?" she whispered to herself.

She shook her head, dismissing the thought. "No, it can't be. Why would he—"

Is he upset because I said it didn't mean anything?

The question hung in her mind, pulling her deeper into her own thoughts as she stared at her reflection. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them—and she wasn't sure what it meant.