*Maria*

Warmth.

A feeling of safety and comfort.

Something I haven’t felt waking up in so long. I open my eyes to see a man’s muscular chest. Usually, I’d scream, but I remember who this is.

The one that helped me where even Smokey couldn’t. I snuggled deeper into his embrace.

“Mmmmm. Who-” A barely awake Aren said.

“Just a bit longer, okay.” I said, trying to sound a bit ...