A soft tremble moves over her body, and I take another step forward without thought.
She’s cold, and while there are an ever-growing number of things I can’t fix right this second, this is one I can.
The file she disappeared up the stairs with is neatly piled on the floor, which is a relief in itself.
I half expected to find her asleep with a page stuck to her face.
Asher rounds the bed, some of the tension in his shoulders releasing once he can see her expression. “I don’t think she was crying when she fell asleep,” he whispers.
Thank God.
If she was thinking about leaving, she would be upset, that much I’m sure of.
He kneels on the edge of the bed and carefully gathers our girl into his arms while I tug the sheets back far enough for him to slip her between them.
She barely stirs throughout the transfer, and it’s not until we’re both stripped down to our boxers with her pressed between us that her eyes flutter open.
“I didn’t think you’d come tonight,” she murmurs.
“We’ll always come for you, Little One,” I tell her, and I mean every fucking word.
Asher may be on the fence about keeping her even if she tries to run, but I’m not.
There’s nothing I won’t do to keep my family together, no one I won’t kill, and nothing I won’t burn to the fucking ground.
Hannah is mine, and I don’t plan on ever letting anyone take her away from me.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
HANNAH
Waking up with my face pressed to an overheated chest has become a part of my routine and is one of my favorite parts of my morning. Although I have a vague memory of them coming in during the night, I’m still surprised to find them surrounding me.
People say that relationships are a lot of work, especially happy ones, but fuck. Is this how it’s always going to be?
Will there always be someone trying to tear us apart?
Will my family ever let us be?
Will there ever come a time when we just get to be happy?
“That’s a deep frown for someone who just woke up,” Rowan rumbles, his own voice sleep-riddled. His lips brush over my forehead, making my chest tighten at the sweet gesture.
Although he was always kind to me when he was married to my mother, I didn’t expect him to be gentle with the ones he loved.
Between what he does for a living and his past, it’s hardly a surprise he’s such a hard man outside these walls. But here? With me? He’s everything I ever wanted in a partner.
Asher shifts behind me, his hardness pressing into my ass and sending a wave of heat to my core. “It’s too early for chattering,” he groans.
“It’s almost nine,” Rowan provides helpfully, which has Asher leaning up on his elbow.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Looks like your body clock turned itself off this morning.” Rowan smirks.
Asher prides himself on his routine, on waking up before the sun and starting the day off right, and even if he has taken the odd opportunity to stay in bed with me, he’s always awake long before I am.
In fact, I think this might be the first time I’ve ever woken up before him.
