Chapter 26 Morning Tension

• Mikko woke first.
• His body ached. His back throbbed from sleeping on stone, and the storm had left the air damp and heavy, but none of that mattered. Because the moment his eyes blinked open, he realized she was still there—Espen, warm and breathing in the circle of his arms.
• Her bare back was pressed against his chest, her curves molding into him perfectly, like she’d been made to fit there. And gods help him, he couldn’t stop staring. Her skin glowed pale gold in the weak morning light, freckled with droplets of condensation from the cool, humid cave air. One of her legs was curled slightly between his, and he had no idea when she’d pressed that close.