Chapter 16
Viola woke slowly to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, the faint hum of the city waking up outside. Her body felt warm and sated, tangled in the comforting weight of Mack’s arms wrapped protectively around her waist.
She turned her head just enough to peek at him. His face was calm, almost serene—until his eyes snapped open and locked onto hers. Suddenly, that calm vanished, replaced by a possessive intensity that made her heart skip.
“Morning,” he said, voice low and gravelly, but with a mischievous glint.
“Morning,” she whispered back, still half in that delicious haze of sleep and last night’s memories.
Mack tightened his hold just a little. “You’re not going anywhere today.”
Viola smirked, trying to hide a laugh. “I had plans.”
“Not anymore,” he s
