Elara POV:
I wake already pressed into him. Not loosely and not by accident. Deliberately.
His arm is locked around my waist, heavy and certain, his body hard and restless behind me like he never truly slept at all. The warmth of him seeps into my back, his breath slow but uneven against my neck, and the bond hums between us, bright, alert, alive in a way that feels anything but patient this morning. Neither is Caelan.
I shift just slightly, testing the moment, letting my hip brush him. The reaction is immediate.
A low sound escapes his chest, deep and unmistakable, and his grip tightens without hesitation, dragging me back against him with intent. His mouth finds my neck before I can even tease him for it, breath hot, teeth grazing lightly like he’s reminding himself I’m real.
“Morni
