Val's P.O.V

I woke up to the gentle touch of a hand brushing against my cheek.

"Good Morning, Val," Jax murmured, his voice low and rough from sleep. He smiled softly, his eyes lingering on mine.

"Morning," I replied, forcing a smile even as my heart pounded wildly in my chest.

He reached over, sliding a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering for a moment too long. His gaze softened, and for a second, I thought I saw something deeper in his eyes; something that made my ...