Page 33 of My Knight

Chapter Twelve

Pirate

The room was dark, lit only by the soft glow of the hallway light bleeding in through the crack under the door. The TV was off. The night was quiet.

Except for the snoring.

Saylor was tucked under the covers beside me, her body curled toward mine with one arm flung across my stomach like she was claiming me in her sleep. And she was snoring.

Loudly.

Like, impressively loud.

I stared up at the ceiling and fought a grin that wouldn’t quit. It was the kind of snore that was somehow both adorable and obnoxious at the same time—like a tiny chainsaw with lungs. She snorted once, shifted, and then went right back to it with her lips parted. A little line of drool started to form at the corner of her mouth.

“Damn, baby,” I murmured under my breath. “You could scare off a bear.”

But I didn’t move. She didn’t either.

Didn’t push her off or shake her awake or roll over.

Instead, I just stared at her.

She looked peaceful. Comfortable. Soft in a way I didn’t think I’d seen before. There were still faint bruises on her cheek. And yet she looked untouched in this moment. Like nothing bad had ever happened to her.

We’d come back to the room right after dinner. Everyone had been in a good mood—high on cupcakes, sugar, and whatever madness was being planned for tomorrow. Saylor was happy. And seeing her like that made something settle deep in my chest.

When we came back here, I thought maybe tonight would be the night we could take things to the next level.

There was a tension between us now that hadn’t been there before—soft glances, that spark in her eyes when she caught me watching her. I wanted to know what she tasted like.

After everything that had happened, there didn’t seem to be a point in waiting anymore. I’d spent too long pretending like there’d always be time.

But instead of that spark turning into a flame… she passed out two minutes after her shower.

One second we were watching the first episode of NCIS, and the next she was using my chest as a pillow and drooling like it was her full-time job.

I looked down at her again and took in her messy hair fanned out on my chest.

I sighed.

“I guess one more day’s okay.”

I wasn’t going anywhere.

And neither was she.

Chapter Thirteen

Saylor

“All right!” Dove called, her voice clear and commanding. “First up—we’re playing Sharks and Minnows!”

I tilted my head to the side. “I have no idea what that is.”

“You say that like we know what it means,” Sloane laughed beside me.

Dove grinned and planted her hands on her hips. “Allow me to explain.” She marched to the center of the yard and spun in a slow circle. “On this side”—she pointed to the left—“will be the sharks.” Then to the right, “And on this side will be the minnows.”

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