The morning light filtered through the cedar slats of the bedroom, casting striped shadows across the wreckage of the white linens. The air was cool, smelling of salt and spent passion. They were still tangled together, a knot of limbs and warm skin that felt impossible to unravel.
Julian was the first to stir. He felt Sasha’s steady heartbeat against his chest and the heavy weight of Marcus’s arm draped across his waist. Elena was curled into Marcus’s side, her breathing slow and deep.
"Mmm," Sasha murmured, shifting against him. She blinked, her eyes clearing as she looked up at Julian. "Are we... are we okay?"
Julian smiled, kissing her forehead. "Better than okay. I feel like I can finally breathe."
Marcus groaned, his voice a gravelly rumble that vibrated through all of them. "Who
