*Ember*

The morning sunlight spilled through the windows, casting a warm and inviting glow over the room. Beside me, Alec was still sleeping. I shifted, and Alec let out a soft sound, his grip on my waist tightening to crush me against his warm body.

"Ember," he whispered, his voice husky with sleep and a little desperate. “Stay.”

I placed my hand on his arm. “Alec?”

He didn’t move or stir again until there was the sound of ...