Jessie Monday morning... She felt something warm and soft pressing against the nape of her neck, then strong arms encircling her waist and pulling her gently closer to the larger presence snuggled up behind her. "Jessie," Dex whispered, drawing her ever-so-slightly out of her slumber. "Mmm?" she whispered groggily. "I've got to get going so I can head off to work and class," he explained. "Okay," she replied, already drifting back into the safety of sleep. "I didn't want you to wake up and wonder where I went," he added. "Okay," she repeated, and again started to drift off. "Love you," he said, kissing her a final time before he got out of bed and deprived her of his comforting presence. "Love you," she managed to murmur before her dreams began to return. *** Later that morning

