Ashley’s POV
The morning after our encounter with Ricardo DeLuca, I woke to the feeling of Caden’s strong arms wrapped around me, his breath warm against my neck. His grip was possessive, almost desperate like he was trying to keep me tethered to him even in sleep.
But we both knew that Ricardo’s return had shaken something loose in our world.
I carefully turned in Caden’s embrace, my fingers tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. Even in sleep, his expression was tense, his brows slightly furrowed. He looked like a man who hadn’t truly rested in a long time.
I knew the feeling.
Gently, I pressed a kiss to his lips, and almost instantly, his arms tightened around me. His eyes flickered open, dark and intense.
“You’re awake,” I murmured.
He let out a low hum, his grip on my waist firm.
