Chapter 9: The Watch

Annika's POV

I woke at dawn with a man's arm across my waist and the whole city gray in the window.

For one moment I lay still and let myself feel it.

His breath was warm on my shoulder. His leg was thrown over mine.

I had not slept that deeply in two years.

Then I remembered his face last night, when the chain slid out from my hair.

He had gone as white as the sheet. He had said nothing, and I had kissed him again before I could ask.

I reached for the watch on my chest.

"Don't," Rhys said into my neck.

"You're awake."

"I've been awake an hour." His arm tightened. "Don't ask me yet."

"Ask you what?"

"Whatever's in your face."

I rolled onto my back and held the watch up between us.

The cracked glass caught the early light.

"I woke up holding this in the hospital," I said. "Emmett said it was his. He told me to throw it out. You went white when you saw it last night."

"Lots of men have a watch like that."

"Is it yours?"

"I owned one. Steel, a plain dial." His eyes held mine. "It was a gift from my grandfather. I lost it a long time ago."

"When?"

"Annika." His mouth was very close to mine. "It's a watch."

He kissed me before I could answer.

It was a good kiss, slow and thorough. I knew exactly what it was for.

I let him kiss me anyway.

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