Chapter 38: Waking Up
I wake to warmth. Soft breaths tickle my skin, the faint scent of lavender and cinnamon filling the air. It takes a second for my mind to fully catch up, but when it does, I find myself staring into the sleeping face of Cecilia, her arms wrapped around me, holding me close.
She looks... peaceful. Serene, even. Her blond hair is slightly messy, strands falling across her closed eyes, her lips slightly parted in sleep. She really is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.
Before I can stop myself, I lean forward and press a kiss to the top of her head, breathing her in. Last night comes back in flashes—her convincing me to stay, us crawling into bed together, her arms naturally finding their way around me, a few slow, teasing kisses exchanged between us. But beyond that... nothing.
I sigh, disappointed in myself. I had apparently passed out before things could escalate. Cain would have a field day mocking me if he ever found out.
The thought of Cain sends a jolt of pure terror down my spine.
Training.
I have no idea what time it is—Cecilia's room has no windows, and I wasn't exactly keeping track of the hours when I allowed myself to be dragged into bed. Cain's brutal training started before dawn, and I know for a fact I missed it.
As I shift slightly, a sudden wave of unease hits me. Letting her sway me into staying now feels like a very bad idea.
But before I can panic further, Cecilia stirs beside me. Slowly, her lashes flutter open, and for a moment, she just looks at me, sleep still lingering in her half-lidded gaze. Then, she smiles—so radiant and soft that, for a second, I forget my impending execution at the hands of Cain.
"Good morning," she whispers, her voice husky with sleep, before she leans in and presses a slow, lingering kiss against my lips.
"Good morning," I murmur against her lips, kissing her back before brushing a few stray strands of golden hair out of her face. She smiles again, soft and warm, like the first rays of sunlight stretching over the horizon.