PAULINE POV
I woke up warm.
Not just physically. Not just from the covers draped over us or the heat radiating off the bodies tangled around mine. No—this warmth was deeper. The kind that seeps into your bones, that settles beneath your skin like a second pulse. The kind that whispered, you’re not alone anymore.
I didn’t open my eyes right away.
I didn’t need to.
One arm was looped around my waist—Robert’s, heavy and protective, his thumb brushing absentminded circles over my stomach even in sleep. My back was pressed to his chest, his breath steady against the back of my neck. And Rett—gods, Rett—his leg was thrown over mine, his hand splayed between my breasts, warm even through the thin fabric of my pajama top. His nose nuzzled the top of my head, and he made a quiet sound, half si
