Page 15

Lark

T he first thing I noticed was the warmth.

Not from the sunlight sneaking through the blinds—but from the man wrapped around me like I was gravity.

Axel’s arm was slung low across my hips, his chest pressed firm against my back, and his hand… well, it definitely wasn’t interested in personal space.

I smiled.

I shifted slowly, trying not to wake him, but when I turned, his eyes were already open—dark, warm, a little dangerous with sleep.

“Morning,” he said, voice scratchy and low.

“Morning,” I whispered back.

We just looked at each other for a moment. My fingers found the edge of the sheet. His thumb skimmed along my hip, lazy and possessive.

“You okay?” he asked.

“More than okay,” I murmured. “You?”

He nodded. “Didn’t sleep much. Kept checking to make sure you were still real.”

I grinned. “I had to check for bite marks.”

His lips curved. “You saying I got carried away?”

“I’m saying I was hoping you would.”

His mouth found mine again—slow, deep, lingering.

The kind of kiss that promised more … whenever either of us asked.

And then—

Bang bang bang.

“Axel! You alive in there?” Rush’s voice. Of course, it was Rush.

Axel groaned into my hair. “Do not open that door.”

Another bang. “Cooper said your communication’s off. We thought maybe you were dead. Or naked.”

I laughed into the pillow. “Definitely one of those.”

Axel buried his face under a pillow. “I’m going to kill him.”

I whispered, “Can I go out wrapped in your blanket and give them coffee without explaining anything?”

“No.”

“I’ll wear pants.”

“No.”

“Just boots?”

“Lark.”

I kissed his jaw. “You’re cute when you’re territorial.”

He rolled me beneath him with a growl. “I’m not cute. I’m dangerous.”

I bit my lip. “Then prove it. After breakfast.”

His grin was pure sin. “You’re not walking straight out of this cabin, are you?”

“I wasn’t planning to.”