The mattress dips as they meet in the middle. They trade soft nods that say keep going. The headboard taps a soft beat and forgets to count. The rhythm tightens once, then opens into calm. They lie shoulder to shoulder, counting heartbeats.
Soft lamplight warms the duvet as they trade a look. They settle into a tempo that fits like memory. Pace rises, levels, and rises again. Warmth crests like tidewater and lays them back down. They keep the last inch of closeness on purpose.
