Knowing that gave me the energy to take care of the condom, and when I returned to the bed, I tucked her against my front again. She was out before me, but I quickly followed, dozing off despite where my thoughts had gone. When I woke again, a handful of hours later, it was dawn, and I was going to wake Josie again, but this time with the second best way possible.

With a plate of bacon.

Easing away from Josie, careful not to stir her, I slipped off the bed. In the dusky light streaming in from the window, I found a pair of sweats and slipped them on. I grabbed a Henley off a pile of clothing and walked into the bathroom. I quietly brushed my teeth and scrubbed my face before heading back out into the bedroom.

I got hung up staring at her for a moment.

Curled on her side, the comforter had slipped down to her hips, and a whole lot of peachy skin was on display. So was a dusky pink nipple, peeking out beside the arm folded across her chest. She was a damn goddess lying there, but it was the absolute peacefulness in her expression as she slept that held me immobile.

I never wanted to see her look any other way.

And I knew that wasn’t going to be possible. There was a lot we had to face, but I was going to lessen any blow coming at her.

Moving to the bed, I picked up the comforter and pulled it up, covering her. I leaned down and kissed her softly on the cheek. I straightened and with my shirt in hand, I slipped out of the room. Out in the hall, I pulled the Henley on over my head as I walked toward the lobby. The place was silent, as it was too early for the students to even be up on a Monday morning, and after what happened yesterday evening, I doubted there’d be classes. I neared the lobby, a shiver of awareness skating over my skin, and I knew it wasn’t entirely empty.

I slowed my steps, frowning as I spotted Alex standing a few steps away from the entombed furies. She didn’t look over at me when she spoke. “This is weirdly familiar, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” A whole lot of shit was weirdly familiar. “Was kind of hoping I wouldn’t see these bitches again.”

Alex smiled slightly.

I stopped, running my hand over my chest. “Why are you up so early?”

“Haven’t really slept yet. Been helping with clean-up,” she explained, and I imagined that if I was a better person, I’d feel bad about not helping.

But I didn’t.

Not at all.

I looked around, expecting to find Aiden. “Where’s your shadow?”