As much as I loved the play of light and color, I found myself unable…okay, unwilling…to open my eyes. My sundress had ridden above my knees as I slept and I could feel Jonas’s jeans-clad thigh on the skin of my inner knee. I wasn’t ready to give up the most amazing experience of my life; to go back to being completely isolated in a world of billions. There was a light kiss on my forehead as a warm hand stroked repeatedly, hypnotically through my hair. “Ellie, open your eyes.” I didn’t want to but I forced myself to do it anyway. I found myself staring into Jonas’s hazel green gaze. “Good morning, Ellie.” I was supposed to say something. None of my thoughts would cooperate. When I’d woken during the night, Jonas’s face had been in complete darkness. Seeing him inches from me in the light was surreal. Sleep-ruffled with golden brown shadow along his jaw, he was so gorgeous that I was in shock. I wanted to hug him tighter. I wanted to kiss him. Jordan said quietly from above, “No nightmares, Ellie.” It was he who was stroking my hair. “Ellie, we would never, ever hurt you,”
