Evan’s POV
When my eyes opened to the warm morning light filtering through the blinds, the pounding in my skull was gone. The fever had finally broken.
My chest felt heavy, but it wasn't the weight of illness, it was Elena. She was fast asleep, her face buried flush against my collarbone, her hand resting softly over my bare ribs. The soft, rhythmic rise and fall of her chest against mine created a quiet, aching peace I hadn't felt in a while.
Moving with agonizing slowness so as not to wake her, I carefully slid my arm out from under her waist. I gently shifted her off my chest, easing her head onto the pillows, and pulled the heavy wool duvet up to her chin. I lingered over her for a long moment, my chest tightening as I gently brushed a stray lock of dark hair away from her cheek, le
