Ivy had no idea how long she had been asleep.
When she finally stirred awake, the first thing she noticed was the steady warmth surrounding her. Blinking away the last traces of sleep, she realized she was lying on the couch, tangled in Xander's embrace.
For a brief moment, she froze.
Then the memories of the previous night came rushing back.
They had spent hours buried in files, reviewing every piece of evidence they had collected. By the end, neither of them had the energy to keep their eyes open.
A faint smile curved her lips.
"Maybe we really needed this," she murmured.
It had been a long time since either of them had gotten proper rest.
Then something suddenly occurred to her.
"Wait..."
She distinctly remembered falling asleep at the study table.
So...
How had she ended up on the couch?
Her cheeks warmed as she glanced at the man still sleeping peacefully beside her.
"You carried me."
The realization made her smile despite herself.
Just then—
