I woke up warm.
Which was weird, because I usually kicked off blankets in my sleep. But this warmth wasn't from fabric.
It was her.
Elira's arm was slung lazily across my waist, and my face was buried halfway in her hair. Her breathing was soft and steady, brushing against my collarbone. She smelled like the forest after rain. And also like trouble.
For a second, I didn't move. Didn't breathe. Just… existed in that exact moment, like if I even blinked too loudly, she'd vanish.
Then the memory hit.
The kiss.
My brain practically short-circuited.
We kissed. Last night. Really kissed.
And then… nothing. No follow-up. No explanations. Just her letting me fall asleep on her lap while she played with my hair like I was some enchanted house cat.
And now here we were.
Wrapped up together. Fully clothed. Slightly tangled. Emotionally compromised.
She stirred.
I panicked.
