Her lips curl into a soft smile, her eyes shining with affection. “So are you.”
I tuck her into my lap, her head resting against my chest. The warmth of her body against mine is a comfort I didn’t realize I needed. I wrap my arms around her, holding her close as we drift off together, finding solace in each other’s embrace.
The quiet of the room settles around us, and I find mythoughts settling and my anger receding. I allow my eyes to drift closed and focus on the sounds of Lily and Jax’s steady breathing.
CHAPTER 16
MORNING LIGHT
LILY
I waketo the soft brush of fingers against my cheek and the solid weight of Enzo’s arms wrapped around me. The room is dim, the first light of morning beginning to filter through the curtains. His breath is warm against my ear as he whispers, “Hey, sleepyhead. Time to wake up.”
I groan softly, shifting in his lap. “What time is it?”
“Early,” he says with a chuckle. “But lucky for you, you’re not on breakfast duty today. That’s all me, so you can sleep as late as you’d like.”
I stretch, my muscles pleasantly aching from last night’s activities. “You? Cooking breakfast?” I tease, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, don’t act so surprised,” he smirks. “I’m a man of many talents. You just relax.”
I eye the sun barely peeking through the curtains, then look back at Enzo. “Why are you going to cook breakfast so early?”
Enzo chuckles, and it’s so unexpected I almost gasp. The sound is throaty and low and perfect. I want to makehim do it again. He replies before I can try, “I am going to sleep a couple of hours in my bed first. Then I’ll make breakfast.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll move so you can get your beauty sleep,” I tease.
As I climb out of his lap, a cool draft brushes over my skin, and I shiver slightly. Enzo watches me with a glint of amusement in his dark eyes, but there’s something deeper there too—something that sends my heart skipping. It’s a combination of affection and possession. Enzo’s emotions are never simple or straightforward, and this is no exception.
“Go on,” he urges. “I’ve got this.”
I hesitate, my gaze flicking to Jax. He’s still sound asleep on the bed, his dark hair tousled, his face unusually peaceful. Free of the constant stress he carries, he looks younger, more vulnerable.
“Who’s next on Jax duty?” I ask.
“I was just going to go see if anyone was awake and if not, wake someone up,” Enzo replies with a shrug.
An impulse I can’t resist takes hold of me, and before I overthink it, I cross the room and climb into the bed beside Jax. “Let the others sleep. I’ll stay here,” I murmur.
Jax stirs as I settle against his side, and his arm instinctively wraps around me. The naturalness of it tugs at my heart, even though he doesn’t fully wake. His warmth and solid presence anchor me, a comfort I hadn’t realized I needed.
“If you’re sure,” Enzo replies quietly.
“I’m sure. Just wake me when it’s time to actually eat,” I tease again.
Closing my eyes as I hear Enzo exiting the room, I letmyself drift back to sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of Jax’s breathing.
When I wake again, sunlight fills the room. Fingers gently stroke my hair, and I open my eyes to find Jax watching me, stroking a hand through my tangled mane. His green eyes are filled with a swirl of emotions—sadness, guilt, and some anger and frustration mixed in, too.
“Good morning,” I say softly, smiling up at him and choosing to ignore the emotions he’s wearing so openly. When he’s ready to talk, I’m here, but I’m not going to force it.
He frowns, his hand pausing in my hair. “Lily, you shouldn’t be in here.”
My smile falters. “Why not?”
He looks away, his jaw clenching. “Because I don’t deserve to have you in my bed. Not after everything I’ve done.”
I reach up, cupping his cheek and gently turning his face back to mine. “Jax, you have to forgive yourself. It’s the only way forward.”
