Chapter 199

• Elvira
• I woke up to the soft morning light spilling into the room, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure where I was. The warmth of the sheets, the lingering scent of Jaxon’s cologne, and the quiet rhythm of his breathing beside me, it was all too comforting, too real. I shifted slightly and felt the weight of a hand tracing lazy circles on my skin. My eyes fluttered open, and there he was, staring down at me with that familiar, intense gaze.
• For a brief second, I nearly flinched. I’ve spent weeks apart from him, so much of our history tangled in anger, hurt, and misunderstanding. But the truth was, I had been craving this closeness, these small moments of intimacy that I had been too stubborn or too scared to embrace.