Chapter 199

Elvira POV

I woke up to the soft morning light spilling into the room, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure where I was. The warmth of the sheets, the lingering scent of Jaxon’s cologne, and the quiet rhythm of his breathing beside me, it was all too comforting, too real. I shifted slightly and felt the weight of a hand tracing lazy circles on my skin. My eyes fluttered open, and there he was, staring down at me with that familiar, intense gaze.

For a brief second, I nearly flinched. I’ve spent weeks apart from him, so much of our history tangled in anger, hurt, and misunderstanding. But the truth was, I had been craving this closeness, these small moments of intimacy that I had been too stubborn or too scared to embrace.

“Is this real?” Jaxon whispered, his voice low, husky with lingering sleep. “I’ve been staring at you since four a.m., wondering if