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"Good morning, sunshine."

The low, morning-gruff rumble emerges from his chest before he opens his eyes and quickly rolls toward me to wind around me like an octopus. I can't help but laugh, especially when he nuzzles his whiskery face into my neck and it tickles.

"Mmm. I like waking up like this. Imagine my surprise when I came home from shift and found you in my bed."

My cheeks heat. Actually my whole body heats.

I meandered around Sully's house for over an hour, exhausted from a sleepless night and more than a little antsy. And curious—which is why I wandered into his room. I didn't snoop in drawers or closets, but I did look at the two framed photos on his nightstand. One is of a much younger but totally recognizable Sully making a goofy face next to a young woman I assume is Sully's sister, Kelsey. Another picture shows them older, standing side by side with Sully dressed in a lacrosse uniform. "Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Getting up so early to get Betty in position usually means I wake up automatically. But after the events of the last week? Sleep is elusive and fitful.

"I'm glad you did. I happen to like having you here."

He kisses my neck and cheek before taking a deep breath.

"Tell me about your trips to Safe Harbor."

I still. I knew there was little chance of the time I've spent with Lawson going unmentioned by the Saints guarding me, but I still hoped that maybe I'd be able to broach the subject on my own. I didn't mention it to Sully due to him being at work because I wasn't sure if it would upset him, and that wasn't something I wanted to do, considering the danger of his job. But Sully hasn't mentioned it, either. And he's obviously known all along.

I shove at his forearms, and Sully lets me go so that I can turn on my side to face him. I marvel at the way he stares at me. A bit chiding, a lot hungry, but worried too. I lift my fingertips to the line between his eyebrows and gently smooth it away. "Lawson seems like he knows his stuff."

He lifts his hand to my shoulder and smooths it down my arm.

"How do you feel? Sore?"

"Some. But it's a good sore. I mean, Lawson showed me around and taught me some basic moves so far, but I'm hardly a natural. I'm proud of myself, though. For taking him up on the gift certificate and doing this for me."

His hand pauses on the way back up, braced on my shoulder while he thumbs my cheek.

"I'm proud of you too. Never doubt that, Vi."

"But?"

"I don't ever want you to feel that you can't tell me something. I might not like whatever it is, but we need to be open and honest with each other. No secrets. Yeah?"

"Yeah," I whisper, the tension in my body easing because I know where he's coming from. That hurt place deep inside him caused by his sister not feeling as though she could share her pain or fear with him or their parents.

I smile up at him and feel a flutter in my belly when his lips lift at the corners in response. "You wanna know the best part?"

"What's that?"

"I can't wait to kick butt."

Sully's sudden belly laugh echoes through the room before he gloms onto me again. He lowers his head for a kiss, but I quickly cover my mouth with my hand. "No! Morning breath," I mutter.

He chuckles again and kisses the fingers I hold over my mouth.

"You're mine. Morning breath, crazy ex and all."

He kisses my forehead next before swatting my behind.

"Hey!"

"Come on, I'll fix you breakfast. You're going to need your energy if you plan to kick everyone's butts."

I watch as he rolls to his side of the bed and go still. I follow his gaze and see it on the nightstand. Rather, the photos on the nightstand. "Kelsey was beautiful," I whisper. "You two look a lot alike."

He glances at me from over his shoulder, and I see the flash of pain in his gaze. The loss. And his fear and worry, though I know that is something he tries to hide from me.