“Why are you in my bed?”
He grins, but the sparkle in his eyes dims. “I knew you would do this,” he whispers, making my eyebrows gather in confusion as he nods toward my nightstand. “I sent you the video.”
“What video?” I repeat, and he doesn’t speak a word as he nods in the same direction again.
With a huff, I reach for my device, reluctant to turn my back on him, and the second I shift, I quickly lose that familiar ocean mist scent that clings to him.
I have an overwhelming desire to get it back.
Irritated with myself and my body’s inability to pretend he doesn’t exist, I tap the notification on my screen before pressing play on the video he sent.
His face fills the screen, amusement dancing in his eyes as he walks backward toward my bed.
“What are you doing?”
Is that me?
I appear on the screen a moment later, sleepy and groggy.
“I’m getting proof, Princess.”
I huff, my eyebrows furrowing as my eyes remain closed. “Just get in the bed, Teddy.”
“Happily,” he sings, taking a seat beside me on the fresh sheets. “I just need confirmation from you that this is your idea, and that you’re not going to get mad at me in the morning.”
One eyelid pries open an inch.
“Get in here, or I’m going to change my mind.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I’ll ask one of the others instead,” I threaten, and his lips purse.
“Ivy, I need you to do me a solid here. I don’t want to face your wrath in the morning.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. I want you here so I can feel safe. Future me, don’t be mad. He smells too good.”
The clip ends, silence drenching the room. Why don’t I remember any of that?
Teddy’s hand closes around mine, holding the device, before he slips it from my grasp.
My eyes find his.
“It’s instinctive for me to break the ice and say something witty, but I really don’t want to fuck this up with you,” he explains as he runs a hand through his hair. “You had been restless in your sleep for a while, so Baron declared it was time to give you some space. We agreed that one of us would set up camp on the floor, but you immediately woke up calling my name.”
I shake my head, hating how not mad I am at him, but it does nothing to settle the distress that lingers in the back of my mind. It makes me feel exposed and vulnerable, and even though none of this is his fault, I don’t feel like I can trust anyone.
“Where are the others?” I ask, but he waves me off.
“Don’t worry about that. You should get some more rest, Ivy. You need it. You’re still recovering,” he insists, his voice all gentle and calm, threatening to break through my walls, and I shake my head.
“I saw the time, and I want to be able to eat before my first class,” I explain, dragging a hand down my face before stretching out my muscles.
“Class?” he blurts, and I tilt my face toward him.
“That’s what tends to happen when you’re at an academy, Teddy,” I say slowly, unable to contain the grin on my face as his eyebrows furrow.
“But, Princess, you just…” His words trail off, but I can guess what he’s going to say.
