HIRAM’S POV:
Waking up early isn’t my forte. But a night spent away from my usual comfort makes it impossible to stay asleep for long. For half an hour, I lie there with my eyes squeezed shut, trying to will myself back into darkness. But my body refuses to cooperate. Giving in, I sit up, and the faint light of dawn outside the window tells me I’m not the only one struggling to rise.
I glance over, and there she is, lying next to me, utterly exposed. Her hair sprawls across the pillow in a tangled mess—my mess. Any regret I thought I’d feel is nowhere to be found. I should feel guilt. I thought I would. Instead, as I gaze at her, an unexpected possessiveness takes over me.
I reach out and brush a stray curl from her face, feeling the softness under my fingertips, and in a moment I can’t
