Page 214 of Before Dawn

Iwoke to the scent of something sweet and warm, my body still heavy with sleep. Blinking drowsily, I saw Mikkel walking in, a tray balanced in his hands. Before I could even attempt to sit up, he set the tray on the dresser and was at my side, his strong hands gently guiding me against the pillows.

“Good morning,” I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

“Good morning, Red,” he said as he settled at the edge of the bed, his fingers already finding my feet.

That was when I took him in—completely shirtless, tattoos on full display. It was something I’d seen a thousand times, but never got tired of it. I loved the way the ink wrapped around him, as if it was a part of him,just like the initials of my name engraved on the chain around his neck and wrists. Every time I saw them, it felt like a mark of something deeper between us.

Then, as if it was second nature, his hands moved from my feet to my lower abdomen, then to my back. The gentle pressure made my body melt.

I exhaled. “I’m feeling less nauseous today. And… thanks for making breakfast.”

“My pleasure,” he whispered before pressing a lingering kiss to my thigh.

I got up to brush my teeth, and when I returned, Mikkel was setting a tray on my lap. It was neatly arranged with a fruit smoothie, a fresh fruit bowl, French toast, and a bagel sandwich layered with egg, ham, and avocado. Beside it, a glass of water and a dose of Midol waited, his attention to detail as thoughtful as ever.

“I Googled what was best for cramps,” he said casually, still rubbing slow, soothing circles into my foot. “Fruits and eggs came up a lot. But I know you don’t like seeing papaya in your fruit salads, so I put in the smoothie instead.”

A lump formed in my throat as warmth unfurled within me, moved by the depth of thoughtfulness behind it all. I didn’t have the words to thank him, so I just kissed him. Slow and deep, hoping he could feel what I couldn’t say.

When I pulled back, I exhaled. “I want to eat on the floor.”

Without hesitation, he moved, settling onto the floor with me as if it was the most normal thing in the world. I took a bite of my bagel sandwich before glancing at him. “Are you gonna eat?”

“I already did.”

Of course he did.

“By the way,” he added, his voice even but firm, “I had Morison clear my schedule so we could stay in for a while. At least until you’re feeling better.”

I paused mid-bite. “You—”

“I know I didn’t have to,” he said before I could argue. “But I wantedto.”

I swallowed, staring at him for a long moment before looking away, the weight of his gaze almost too much.

“What do you want to do today?” he asked after a beat.

I sighed. “I want to dye and wash my hair. I missed wash day, and it’s driving me insane.”

“Let me do it for you.”

I blinked. “Wash my hair?”

“Yeah, and dye it.”

I snorted. “Are you sure? My hair is thick, and the dye is—”

“No excuses,” he cut in smoothly. “When you’re done eating, I’ll get it done for you.”

Breakfast wasdelicious. Every bite of the bagel sandwich, the warm French toast, and the perfectly sweet fruit had me stuffed and satisfied. And Mikkel? Well, he made sure I didn’t lift a finger the entire time. After I finished, he pulled me back onto the bed for another massage—this one even better than the first. His hands were magic, easing the last bits of tension from my body, making me forget about the lingering cramps altogether.

Eventually, I dragged myself into the bathroom, needing a moment to just sit and breathe before tackling the beast that was wash day. But to my absolute shock, Mikkel strolled in not even a minute later, his arms full of products—shampoo, conditioner, a hair mask, all sorts of oils, combs, and even the exact hair dye I used.

I blinked at him, my mouth parting. “Where did you get those?”

His lips tugged into a proud smile as he set everything on the counter. “When you called me yesterday, I did some runs. Ulta was one of them. The representative there gave me averypassionate lecture about how curly hair needs special care. And I know your hair is important to you, so I needed to make sure I got the right products.”

I juststaredat him, my brain short-circuiting.

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