“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.” I roll my head over on the pillow to find Alec propped up on one arm, staring at me.
I smile. “Good morning.”
“I take it you slept well?”
“What gave it away?”
“Your snoring.”
“I don’t snore.” I slap his chest with the back of my hand.
“Okay, I wouldn’t technically call it snoring, but you do make sounds.”
“Sounds?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He runs one fingertip along my hairline. “You squeak.”
“Squeak?”
“And whimper.”
“Whimper?” I frown.
“It’s adorable.” He smiles.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” He’s adamant. That arrogant attitude is so the Alec I know. “Your roots are red.” He’s inspecting me.
“I’m a natural redhead. I dye my hair brown.”
“Ah. That makes a lot of sense.” He walks his fingertips down my forehead to my nose. “The freckles.”
“Yes,” I confirm. “They are even more prominent in the sun.”
“I’d like to see that.”
“Why? I hate them. They’re ugly.”
“I love them. They’re beautiful,” Alec contests. “They become you.”
“My mother used to say that.” I grimace. It’s one of the few nice things she ever said to me.
“Well, she was right.” His hand travels down my naked body. “Where are your parents?”
“Gone.” My one-word answer causes him to stop.
“Dead?” he asks delicately.
I wish.
“No, just gone. I haven’t had a relationship with them in a very long time,” I reluctantly share. My parents are never a joyous subject for me.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” His hand picks up where it left off, moving south down my torso.
