Whispers of Affection, Walls of Steel

I woke up slowly, my body pleasantly warm and heavy from sleep. As my eyes adjusted to the soft morning light filtering through the blinds, I became aware of the tangle of limbs surrounding me. Ronan's arm was draped protectively across my waist, his copper hair tickling my shoulder. Rhys had somehow managed to wrap himself around my back, his steady breathing warm against my neck. Silas was curled on my other side, one hand loosely holding mine even in sleep.

But there was a notable absence.

Jaxon.

After the intensity of yesterday—the way he'd marked me, the way my wolf had claimed him—I'd half-expected him to stay close. Instead, he'd disappeared after making sure I was safely in the others' care. Typical Jaxon behavior, I supposed. One step forward, two steps back.

I carefully extracted myself from the sleeping pile of men, earning only a few mumbles of protest. Rhys's eyes cracked open briefly before he rolled over and buried his face in the pillow.