MARIA POV
"Dax," I breathed, my voice barely a whisper. "What…what are you doing?"
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze locked on mine, searching as if trying to read my thoughts. Then, slowly, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth— that infuriatingly cocky expression he always wore when he knew he had the upper hand. “Couldn’t sleep,” he finally said, his voice low, almost a purr. “Thought I’d come see what you were up to.”
My mind reeled, a chaotic swirl of thoughts and emotions that I couldn’t seem to untangle. His arms were still around me, his hands resting on the curve of my hips, and the heat from his body seeped into mine, making it impossible to think clearly. This was bad. This was really, really bad.
“I…you…you should go back to bed,” I stammered, my voice sha
