Chapter 70

I woke to the soft warmth of Monique’s body curled against mine, her steady breaths tickling my shoulder. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the room. For a moment, I simply lay there, savoring the quiet, the feeling of her resting so peacefully beside me.

She shifted slightly, letting out a content sigh as she stretched against me, her bare skin brushing against mine.

“Morning,” she murmured sleepily, her lips pressing lightly against my chest.

I ran my fingers through her tousled curls. “Morning, mon amour. Sleep well?”

She hummed. “Mmm, very well. But waking up next to you might be my favorite part.”

I chuckled. “Flatterer.”

She lifted her head, her eyes still heavy with sleep but full of warmth. “I only tell the truth.”

With a mischievous smile, she suddenly tossed the covers off of us, exposing our bare bodies to the cool morning air. She stretched her arms above her head, deliberately teasing me with the slow movement.

I groaned, already feeling the familiar stirrings of arousal.

She smirked. “I love that sound.”

“You’re impossible,” I muttered, reaching for her, but she laughed and slipped out of bed before I could grab her.

“Sorry,” she called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the ensuite, leaving me hard and frustrated.

I sighed, running a hand over my face. Such a tease, I thought laughing to myself.

By the time I joined her in the ensuite, Monique was already standing at the sink, brushing her teeth, completely unbothered by her nudity. She met my eyes in the mirror, giving me a playful wink as she handed me my toothbrush.

As we moved through our morning routine, the touches between us were constant—her hand brushing against my hip, my fingers trailing over her back as I reached for a towel.

Before I stepped into the shower, she adjusted the waterproof cover on my cast for me then stepped in beside me.

“This is becoming a habit,” I murmured, wrapping my good arm around her waist.

She grinned, pressing a soapy hand against my chest. “I like habits.”

We took our time washing each other, though neither of us pushed things further. The night before had left us both feeling deeply satisfied, and now, there was something even more intimate about simply caring for one another—rinsing shampoo from each other’s hair, tracing soft patterns over damp skin, exchanging slow kisses under the warm spray.

After drying off, we dressed casually, Monique slipping into a pair of fitted jeans and a snug, long-sleeved top that clung to her curves in a way that made me want to undress her all over again.

She caught my lingering gaze and smirked. “You’re staring.”

I grinned. “Admiring.”

She rolled her eyes playfully but stepped closer, pressing a lingering kiss to my lips. “Come on, let’s get some food in you before you start getting ideas.”