MARIA'S POV
I yawned slowly as the soft light of dawn trickled into the room, noticeably brightening it even beneath my eyelids.
Stirring from my sleep, I felt a bit disoriented. I had no memories from the previous night yet, but a strange feeling crept in, making my eyelids twitch.
Suddenly, my eyelids fluttered open in confusion when I felt like my head was propped up by something. Looking down, my breath hitched as I realized I was resting on Connor's chest.
Once again, I shuddered as I saw my arm around his abdomen, crossing to the other side of the bed, indicating that I had clung to him all night while asleep.
Instantly, my heart rate quickened, and I jerked my head up, feeling awkward and embarrassed. Memories of the previous night flooded back—our shared fear, tension, and the
