Chapter 136. A Different Path

Alison’s POV

The soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, wrapping the room in a golden haze. I stirred, warmth still lingering in my chest from the night before. My body ached in the best possible way… a sweet, heavy soreness that made me want to stay tangled in these sheets forever.

I shifted slightly, my bare skin brushing against his, and I smiled. Xander’s arm was draped lazily over my waist, his breathing deep and even, his chest rising and falling against my back. I tried to ease away, careful not to wake him, but his grip tightened like steel.

“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?” His voice was husky, low, that perfect mix of groggy and dangerous.

I laughed softly, feeling the vibrations of his words against my spine. “I wasn’t sneaking. I was just… “

“Don’t lie to me my love,” he cut in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “You were absolutely sneaking.”

I tilted my head back, still caught in his hold. “May