LOGINALESSIA's POV.I stayed completely still, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing against the back of my neck.Then the rest of my body started waking up.A dull ache settled through my legs, making me wince slightly when I shifted. My whole body felt heavy and pleasantly sore, the kind of soreness that made last night come rushing back before I was even fully awake.I bit the inside of my cheek.Last night.The beach. His hands. His voice. The way everything between us had changed without either of us saying exactly what it meant.Heat crawled up my neck.I swallowed and tried very hard not to move.Zane’s arm tightened slightly around my waist, like he could feel me waking, and his thumb brushed once across my stomach in a sleepy, possessive stroke.I closed my eyes.Great.Now I was definitely awake.The heat radiating from his body made it impossible to forget he was shirtless behind me.I was practically buried in his black shirt, the oversized fabric soft against my skin
ZANE’s POV. I didn’t know what I’d been thinking until the words were out of my mouth and she replied with her own subtle words of I won’t. I held her tightly and kissed her back.“You’re actually sweet when you want to be, Jaxon,” she said with a bright smile enough to blind me, and I laughed, joining our hands together as we exited the building.“If you don’t stop talking too much, I’ll stop being sweet,” I threatened, and she chuckled beside me, still clutching the pendant with a beaming smile that warmed my heart in ways I couldn’t explain.She caught me staring at her and her brows creased. “Just so you know, I’m going to wear it forever,” she said reassuringly, and it dawned on me more clearly than ever that I’d just promised her forever. Something I hadn’t even promised myself yet. Fuck me twice.I led her towards my car, and she looked at me suspiciously when I opened the car door for her. “Where else are you taking me to?”“Where do you want to go?” I shot back, and she pret
ALESSIA’s POV. I dragged myself into the kitchen, still half-asleep.Coffee first. Always. I poured a cup, took a long sip, and dropped into the chair with my laptop. The screen lit up.Fingers on the keys, I typed back an acceptance letter to the school that had invited me.Yeah. This was as good as mornings got. Once that was done, I shut the laptop and gave a good stretch. Kendra walked in yawning.“I take it you’ve accepted the invite already,” she said, and I nodded.“I can’t wait to go.” I squeaked, and she laughed as she began making herself a cup of coffee. “You didn’t tell me what you were doing with Kingsley the other day,” I said, laughing when she froze and turned around to face me.Then she smiled sheepishly and gave a smug shrug. “I may not have really gotten over him. Al, he’s good. Too good for me, but he prioritizes me first,” she said, and I grinned and jerked my head forward.“So you’re telling me this union is permanent. You’ll not break up with him anymore?” I as
ZANE’s POV. “What the fuck is going on here?” I asked as I entered the living room the following morning and saw Mason and Jace organizing party cups around the center table.“Your girl just got a car.” Mason said with a careless shrug as I approached them.“So?” I asked, clearly not understanding it as my eyes roamed around the place.“So… Adrian is throwing a party for her. Like a housewarming thing, but this time it’s a car warming. Do you get?” He explained, and I chuckled.“How old is Alessia? Sixteen?” I teased, clearly not seeing the reason to throw a party because of that. If Adrian needed a party, he could have just fucking said so rather than using Alessia as a cover.“Not funny, Zane. You’re handling the grill.” Jace said seriously, and I shook my head.“No. I’m going out to meet her. You do all the work yourselves.” I said and grabbed my key from the table. My brows furrowed when Mason narrowed his eyes at me.“Have you told her you love her yet? You’re wasting time, and
ALESSIA’s POV. My stomach growled in my sleep and I pulled myself up and stretched. Fuck, it growled again. I was hungry. Apparently, fighting with Zane meant sleeping hungry. I turned on my phone; it was just 7:35 a.m. Good. Zane was either sleeping or training. I wouldn’t have to see him until I was ready to go home.I walked down the hallway and stopped in front of his room. It was slightly open, which meant he was awake already. Resisting the urge to walk in and cuddle with him, I pushed myself down the staircase until I reached the kitchen.Crap… My stomach growled again. What was I supposed to eat? I opened the fridge.Ice cream. And a note. Zane’s writing.Morning, Lessy. Your favorite flavor.I couldn’t stop the smile creeping onto my face as I pulled out the bowl of ice cream from the fridge and leaned against the dining counter to eat.Perfect way to start the morning. Except Kendra’s call came in minutes later.“Hey, babe. There’s a white Honda Civic parked in front of our
ALESSIA’s POV. He mentioned somewhere along the line that we were going to his penthouse so I’d already texted Kendra and told her not to worry about me.ME: With Zane. Till next morning. Do not worry.KENDRA: Details in full tomorrow.She replied and I laughed and imagined throwing my middle finger at her. Unfortunately there was going to be no details. He looked at me with a raised brow.“What’s making you laugh, that’s not me?” he asked and I rolled my eyes. “Something Kendra said. You think so highly of yourself.” I replied and he shrugged.“When it comes to you, I should be the only one that makes you laugh.” He replied and I just looked at him. My heart beating faster against my chest and threatening to be loud enough so he could hear. Apparently he had been doing more of the opposite lately so I couldn’t tell if he meant that or he just actually said it.I quickly turned my eyes away when he caught me staring. The difference was there… it was huge and screaming. Not difference







