CHAPTER 222

**ZION**

A slow yawn escapes me as I blink awake, sleep still clouding the edges of my mind. 

For a split second, I wonder if last night had been a dream—some fevered fantasy I conjured in the dark.

Then I look down.

She’s still there.

Curled against me like she was made to fit, her breath soft and steady against my chest. 

Her hair spills across the pillow in a tangle of silk, and one of her legs is thrown over mine like she owns me.

God.

Something tightens in my chest—an ache so unfamiliar it almost knocks the air from my lungs. I’ve woken up next to girls before, but not like this. Never like this.

Because this—

This feels like peace.

My arm’s half numb from being wrapped around her all night, but I don’t dare move. 

She’s warm. 

She’s here. 

I could lie here forever.

And for the first time in a long time, I don’t want to be anywhere else.

My eyes trace the gentle curve of her lips, the delicate slope of her nose, the way her body rises and falls in quiet rhythm. 

I quietly fumble for my phone on the nightstand, only to find the clock glaring back at me—ten a.m. 

Fuck. 

Political Science class starts in less than an hour, but as I stare back down at her—everything else fades away.

The ticking clock, the world outside—they all lose their grip.

Because right now, there’s nothing more important than this moment, with her lying here beside me.

Nothing else feels urgent. Nothing else matters.

My arm snakes around her waist, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. 

I press a gentle kiss to her bare shoulder, tasting the smoothness of her skin. 

She smells like heaven—like home. I rest my chin on the crown of her head, chest flush against her back, desperate to hold her as close as I can.

My morning hardening presses against her soft skin, sending a sharp jolt through me.

Fuck. 

Not now...

I’ve already taken so much from her last night—exhausted her in every way.

But damn.

She makes me insatiable.

I fight the urge to press into her—to let her feel exactly what she does to me. Every inch of me aches for her, stirred awake by the soft curves moulded against me. But she needs rest… I pushed her too far last night. 

So instead, I bury the hunger, wrapping my arm tighter around her, grounding myself in the quiet rhythm of her heartbeat beneath my palm. It's torture—sweet, maddening torture—but for now, holding her is enough.

She stirs, the softest sound escaping her lips as she shifts beneath the sheets.

God, that sounds.

I wonder what she’ll do if she thinks I’m asleep.

Will she sneak a peek? 

Think she’s being all sly and innocent?

Will she run those soft little fingers over my chest again, like she did last night—slow and curious—trying so hard not to wake me?

Maybe she’ll brush my hair back, bite that lip like she does when she’s nervous…

Maybe she’ll lean in close, breathe me in, like she wants to taste me all over again but doesn’t have the guts.

God, I hope she does.

I hope she thinks I’m dead asleep and takes her sweet little time admiring me like I’m her favourite secret.

A smirk tugs at my mouth.

Come on, Snowflake…

Let’s see what you do when you think I’m not watching.

Touch me, and I swear—I'll grab your wrist, pin it down, and show you what happens to bad girls who tease sleeping men.

Or maybe I’ll just lie here, see how bold you get.

I shut my eyes tighter, heart slow and easy, but every muscle in my body is on alert.

Let’s play Snowflake.

Let’s see how long you can keep those hands to yourself.

Spoiler alert: You won’t.

**WINTER**

I stirred slowly, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains warming my face.

The first thing I registered was warmth—solid, steady, and definitely not a pillow.

My eyes flew open, and it hit me.

Zion.

I was curled against him

Not just curled—practically draped over him, one leg tossed lazily over his hips like a human koala.

His arm was locked securely around my waist, his steady breath warm against my hair. 

A shy smile tugged at my lips, and heat crept into my cheeks almost instantly.

I shifted… just a little.

My breath caught.

There it was—something firm and unmistakably hard - pressing against me.

Oh.

My breath hitched as I realised exactly what it was.

Oh no.

My heart jumped, and heat immediately flared in my cheeks.

Oh God.

It was morning. 

Morning wood was a thing, right? 

Totally normal.

Still… the way it brushed against me, how real it felt... it made my stomach flutter, and my face burn all over again. I didn’t dare move. I wasn’t ready for whatever would happen if I did.

I stared at the wall for a second, heart thudding.

Then slowly, I lifted my face.

My gaze landed on him, and I swear something in me just… melted.

His face was inches away from mine now, soft in sleep. 

His lashes brushed his cheeks, his lips parted just slightly.

He looked completely at peace. Innocent even, which felt ironic, considering the sinful state he was in.

His arm was wrapped tightly around my waist, his chest pressed against mine.

Hair messy from the night before, one leg tangled with mine like he had no intention of letting me go—not now, not ever.

His breath was slow, steady, warm against the curve of my neck. Every inch of me was tucked against him like I belonged there.

He probably didn’t even realise what he was doing to me right now.

A small, involuntary smile pulled at my lips.

Of course, he’d be this unfairly beautiful in the morning. Even unconscious, he managed to take my breath away.

I bit my lip and tried not to squirm—tried not to focus on how close we were, on the heat of his skin, on the way my body instinctively wanted to melt right back into his.

But God, how was I supposed to not feel everything?

Every inch of him was pressed against me.

My cheeks flushed instantly.

Everything came rushing back. 

—His hands, his mouth, the way he looked at me like I was his whole world. My body still tingled in places, sore in the most delicious way.

The way he looked at me was like I was the only thing that had ever mattered.

His hands are everywhere.

His mouth on my skin—on every inch of it.

His voice growling my name like he owned it.

Oh my God.

Heat bloomed across my cheeks and I instinctively pulled the sheet tighter around me, but it did nothing to dim the ache between my thighs or the flutter in my chest.

I let out a tiny, mortified groan. 

I could still feel him—my body sore in places I’d never known could ache, and yet… I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to break whatever this was, even if my brain was full of chaos.

We’d really done it.

I’d given him everything. And somehow… it didn’t feel terrifying. It felt like I’d handed over something sacred and he’d held it. Protected it.

Me.

I’d never done anything like that before.

Never thought I would. 

Not with him. 

And definitely not like that.

I couldn’t believe that happened. 

That I’d let it. 

That I wanted it so badly I practically begged him.

But I didn’t regret it. 

Not for a second.

And he—

He wasn’t gentle.

He wasn’t sweet.

He was… everything I didn’t know I craved.

My fingers moved before I could stop them.

Lightly, I traced the curve of his cheekbone. Just once. Then again.

He didn’t stir.

So I let my touch drift higher, into his hair—thick, dark, slightly messy from sleep. I ran my fingers through it slowly, marvelling at how soft it felt. 

My stomach fluttered.

And then—God, I don’t even know why—I leaned forward and breathed him in.

He smelled like warm skin, something a little musky, and faintly like me. My shampoo. 

My perfume. 

The evidence that I’d been all over him, and he’d been all over me.

I closed my eyes and pressed the tiniest kiss to the corner of his mouth.

And then—

“Damn, Snowflake… staring and sneaking touches while I’m asleep? Didn’t know you were the quiet, pervy type.”

I jerked back slightly, eyes wide.

Zion was awake. 

Very awake.

His voice was thick with sleep and something heavier. His dark eyes were open now, staring straight into mine with that crooked, knowing grin that did things to my spine.

“I was not staring—” I stammered.

“You were,” he said smugly. 

“I could feel it. Your eyes, your fingers…” he raised a brow, 

“Your mouth.”

I opened my mouth to argue but had nothing. 

Absolutely nothing.

“So… one night in my bed and you’re already touching my face, playing with my hair like you’re obsessed?” he teased, voice low and rough with sleep.

“Fuck, Snowflake… didn’t think I’d turn you into a little creeper this fast.”

“Shut up,” I mumbled, burying my face in the pillow between us.

His arm snaked around my waist again, pulling me back into him.

“Not complaining,” he whispered in my ear, lips grazing my skin. 

“I kinda liked it. Waking up to you obsessing over me.”

“I was not obsessing,” I muttered.

“You were breathing me in like I’m your personal addiction.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And you,” he murmured, nuzzling into the crook of my neck, 

“They are adorable when you get caught.”

His lips brushed over my pulse point, slow and deliberate. 

“Do it again,” he whispered. 

“Trace me. Touch me. Watch me. I’ll even pretend to be asleep next time if it makes you feel less like a creep.”

God help me—I grinned against the pillow, heart full and cheeks on fire.

"You were supposed to be asleep," I whispered, caught in the act of watching him like a total creep.

A slow, lazy smirk tugged at his lips, eyes still half-lidded with sleep.

"Yeah?" he murmured, voice deep and rough. 

"So were you… But here you are, gawking at me like I’m your favourite early morning snack."

He stretched slightly, that smirk only deepening.

"Should I be flattered or worried, Snowflake?"

His eyes trailed over my face, that smirk deepening.

"I peeked, y’know," he added, voice dropping lower. 

"Saw you biting that pretty lip… looking at me like you were remembering every damn thing I did to you last night."

He shifted just slightly, enough to make my heart skip.

"So tell me, Snowflake… what filthy little thoughts were going through that head of yours?"

"....Thinking about last night, weren’t you?"

“N-no,” I lied, way too fast.

He chuckled, slow and deep, like he already knew the truth.

“Liar,” he whispered, dragging his lips up to my jaw, barely touching but enough to make my heart stutter.

“Your ears are red,” he chuckled, pulling me closer, his voice thick with smug satisfaction. 

“I know that look, Snowflake......

...You were thinking about how good I made you feel. How you moaned my name. How you begged.”

I buried my face in the pillow, groaning, mortified.

"Zion!"

He laughed, clearly loving this.

"You started it, baby. Sneaking peeks at me, tracing your fingers down my chest, playing with my hair like you couldn’t help yourself."

His hand slid slowly over my waist, pulling me closer.

“You liked what we did last night,” he said softly now, almost reverent. 

“And I loved every fucking second of it. Especially the look on your face when you realised you were mine.”

I swallowed hard, my heart practically thudding out of my chest.

I twisted in his arms to face him, glaring even though my cheeks were burning.

“You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re adorable when you’re shy.” He stretched lazily, not even bothering to hide how satisfied he looked. 

“Don't look at me like that I'm a mess.”

“You do,” he teased. 

“A beautiful, well-fucked mess.”

I smacked his shoulder, blushing furiously. 

“Zion!”

He just grinned wider. 

“What? I’m proud of my work.”

He kissed the side of my cheek, his gaze darkening just a little. 

“You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

That shut me up real fast.

“I love you,” he muttered, his arm sliding over my bare back to pull me closer.

My cheeks flamed.

Gently, he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, fingers brushing my cheek with a tenderness that made my chest ache.

“You look so damn beautiful,” he said quietly, like it was a thought that had slipped straight from his heart to his mouth.

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Then another—softer—to the tip of my nose, before finally finding my lips.

It was slow.

Reverent.

A kiss that felt like a promise.

And just like that, I melted into him all over again.

“Wanna go for round seven was it?”

“Zion,” I hissed, trying to cover my face.

He only chuckled and tugged me right back into him.

“What? You’re the one who woke me up with your filthy mind.”

“I did not—”

Knock knock knock.

“Winterrrrrr,” Claire’s singsong voice rang through the door.