Page 80 of Puck Me Back to Life

Not the way being tied down feels dangerous.

This is worse.

The peace is dangerous.

I can't remember the last time my head was quiet. Even now.

No panic.

No replaying blood on ice.

No William.

Just warmth.

My throat feels tight.

I hate it.

I love it.

I carefully shift onto my back.

Ash makes a low sound in his sleep and immediately pulls me closer, like his body notices me before his brain does.

I freeze.

The arm around my waist tightens.

Possessive.

Instinctive.

My stomach does something uncomfortable.

His hair is everywhere. One dark strand falls across his face. I should move it. I don't, because that's boyfriend behavior. And whatever this is, it definitely isn't that.

Ash's eyes crack open.

It takes him a second to focus. Then he sees me.

“Morning.” His voice is rough from sleep.

I swallow. “Morning.”

Neither of us moves. The silence should be awkward, instead it stretches comfortably between us.

Ash studies me. His gaze drops briefly then returns to my face. “You sleep okay?”

I almost laugh.

Sleep okay. Like that's a thing people normally ask.

“Yeah. I actually slept.” The answer comes out before I can stop it.

Something changes in his expression. Small. Almost impossible to notice. But I see it.

I'm getting disturbingly good at reading him.