MELISSA'S POV

The morning light slipped through the curtains of Xavier’s room, soft and golden, warming the edge of the bed where I lay tangled in the sheets. I turned my head, half-asleep, only to find him already awake, propped up on one elbow, studying me with a smile that was so gentle it made my chest flutter.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he teased, his voice low and rough from sleep.

I stretched with a yawn. “Morning. You’ve been staring at me, haven’t you?”

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