Vael woke up to a continuous beeping from his phone. The sound drilled into his skull, pulling him out of a deep sleep. He tried to move his arm to reach for the phone on the bedside drawer, but his body felt heavier than usual. A weight pressed down on his chest.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked down. Vessara's head rested on his chest. Her hair spread across his skin, strands of it tickling his collarbone. His arms were wrapped around her waist.
She shifted in her sleep, her body curling closer to his, and her breath fanned against his skin in warm, steady puffs.
His first instinct was to push her off. His muscles tensed, ready to shove her away and put distance between them. But he did not move.
He exhaled through his nose, slowly and in control. "Are you awake?" he asked, his voice low.
No response. Her breathing remained even. She was still asleep.
