The brilliant morning sunlight streamed through the gauzy curtains, bathing the rumpled bed linens in a warm, buttery glow.
I blinked my eyes open slowly, squinting against the brightness as I took in my deliciously aching body with a full-body stretch.
Every muscle seemed to protest the simple movement, sending little twinges of residual soreness lancing through me from the previous night's exertions.
"Good morning, gorgeous," a deep voice murmured directly into my ear, its rich timbre still roughened by sleep.
I startled slightly at the unexpected sound, turning to find Karl awake and propped up on one elbow beside me.
His tousled hair was sticking up in all directions, giving him an almost boyishly handsome look in the soft lighting, and a sleepy half-smile curved his full, sen
