AERIS
I woke up sore all over my body, sunlight cutting through a gap in the curtains, and the sound of Ronan moving around the room already half-dressed for morning Mass.
I lay there a second, just watching him button his shirt like a man who hadn't spent half the night proving exactly how far from holy he actually was. Collar going back on. That composure sliding back into place piece by piece, like watching someone strap on armor they'd taken off just for me.
He caught me staring and crossed to the bed, sitting on the edge of it, and pressed his mouth to my forehead first,then to my lips, slower, like he had nowhere better to be even though he did.
"Morning," he murmured against my mouth.
"Morning." My voice came out wrecked. I cleared my throat, tried again. "You're up early."
"
