Judas opened his eyes, pulled from the depths of sleep by a persistent tickle on his cheek. The damp air of the cave felt heavy, but the warmth beside him was grounding.
He blinked, his vision adjusting to the dim interior of the cave.
Summer was awake. She rested her chin on her palms, elbows dug into the mattress, staring down at him with an intensity that would have been unsettling to anyone else.
Her crimson pupils were dilated, fixated on his face as if memorizing the pore structure of his skin.
Seeing his eyelids flutter open, her lips curled into a possessive smile.
"Good morning, Husband."
Judas didn't speak immediately. He reached out, wrapping a heavy arm around her waist and pulling her down.
She went willingly, collapsing against his chest with a contented sigh. The steady thrum of her heartbeat against his ribcage did more to dispel his drowsiness than a bucket of cold water.
