Ray Maddox — POV
It's a Sunday morning, and the world is quiet.
The sun's filtering through my curtains, golden and slow. Her breathing is steady against my chest, and her leg—her warm, bare leg—is tangled over mine like she's afraid I'll disappear if she lets go.
Sky Valen. In my bed. Wearing my shirt. Still asleep.
She smells like vanilla and sleep and safety. Her long black hair is a mess across my pillow and shoulder, and her lips are slightly parted like she fell asleep mid-sentence. Probably complaining about how I always steal the blanket. (I do.)
I don't move.
I just lie there, watching her. Tracing little patterns on her back under the cotton of my shirt, listening to the occasional sleepy sigh she lets out when I shift.
She stirs a little. Then mumbles, "Ray."
God, the way she says my name when she's half-asleep. All soft and needy and mine.
"I'm here," I whisper, brushing a kiss on her forehead.
Her fingers find mine under the sheets. She links them lazily, clinging like she always does in the morning. "You said pancakes."
"I did," I smirk. "You bribed me with kisses."
She cracks one eye open. "I paid in advance."
I laugh. "You did. Still, I should honor the deal."
She groans when I try to get up, arms wrapping around my torso like a koala. "Nooo. Stay. You're warm."
"Sky."
"Ray."
I kiss her again. Slow. Barely there. Her lips curl up against mine.
Eventually, I manage to peel her off, toss on sweats, and head to the kitchen. She sits at the counter in nothing but my black button-down shirt—half-buttoned, sleeves falling over her hands, legs folded on the stool.
She looks at me like I hung the damn sun.
"You're staring," I say as I flip the pancakes.
"You're hot," she replies, yawning.
"You're ridiculous."
"And starving."
"Impatient little thing," I mutter, placing the first pancake on her plate.
She grins, takes a bite, and moans like I just served her heaven.
I watch her, leaning against the counter with my mug in hand. The girl who once refused to smile is now sitting in my shirt, barefoot, sleepy-eyed, eating pancakes I made just for her.
She catches me staring and grins, powdered sugar on her lip.
"What?"
"Nothing," I say quietly. "Just never thought I'd get this."
She softens. Reaches across the counter and grabs my wrist. "You have me, Ray. All of me. Even when I'm annoying. Even when I talk too much. Even when I steal your clothes and all your pillows."
I walk over, tuck her hair behind her ear, and kiss her again. "And I'll take every bit of it."