“Four hours until the alarm,” Marina murmured eventually.
“Worth it.”
“Definitely worth it.” She traced lazy patterns on his chest. “We should probably sleep though.”
“Probably.”
Neither of them moved.
Finally, laughing, Marina shifted off him. He made a sound of protest, but she just curled into his side, fitting perfectly against him.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too.”
His arm was going to fall asleep under her neck. He didn’t move it.
Alessandro stared at the ceiling and marveled at how much his life had changed.
A month ago, he’d been alone in his Manhattan penthouse, convinced he could solve everything himself. Now he was lying in a bed that smelled like vanilla and sea salt, with a selkie curled against his chest and a bond humming contentedly between them.
He’d lost his family’s curse. Gained a family of his own.
Not a bad trade.
“So what do we do now?” he asked.
Marina lifted her head, hair tangled, eyes soft. “I have to be up in four hours to make bread.”
Alessandro groaned. “You’re joking.”
“The bakery doesn’t run itself. And someone has to start the ovens.” She grinned. “Though I suppose I could delegate that task. I hear I have a new business partner.”
“Business partner?”
“You negotiated my supplier contracts last week. Fixed my accounting system. Terrorized the health inspector into admitting his citations were fabricated.” She propped herself up on one elbow. “Face it, dragon. You’re part of the bakery now.”
“I was trying to help.”
“I know. And I’m saying thank you.” She kissed his nose, an absurdly tender gesture. “You can help with the ovens. I’ll even teach you how not to burn yourself.”
“I am fireproof.”
“You burned yourself on my oven the second day you were here.”
“That was different. I was distracted by your…” He gestured vaguely at all of her.
“Smooth recovery.” But she was laughing, and everything was warm, and outside the window the full moon was beginning its descent toward dawn.
They had four hours until the alarm went off. Four hours until the bakery opened and the town descended to celebrate and the real work of building a life together began.
Alessandro pulled Marina closer, breathing in the scent of her, feeling her heartbeat sync with his.
“Set it for five,” he said into her hair. “I’ll start the ovens.”
She made a sleepy, considering sound and didn’t argue.
Chapter Twenty-Four
