Page 50 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron

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She grunted and settled back down.

But then his fingers drifted. From the top of her scalp... down…down…

The tips brushed the faint scar that ran from behind her hairline down the back of her neck, hidden unless you knew where to look.

Her body stiffened instantly.

"Ana?"

She pulled back, eyes wide and then everything spun.

Like the light dimmed in one blink.

When she came to, she was lying flat on her back, Byron's face hovering above hers, pale and panicked. His curls were wild, his hand gripping hers tightly .

"Hey,hey, Ana. Can you hear me? Jesus, love. Bloody hell, you scared the bleedin' life outta me!"

She blinked. Swallowed.

"I'm fine," she whispered, throat dry.

"Was that from the blast?" he asked, softer now, his fingers brushing the hair from her damp forehead.

She hesitated.

Then nodded once. "Yeah."

"Are you... I mean, are you okay?"

Her eyes skittered away. She forced a breath.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

She sat up too fast, brushing imaginary dust from her shirt.

"Let's have that breakfast," she said brightly in an obvious change of subject.

Byron stared at her, clearly not fooled. But he nodded slowly.

“Alright then," he murmured. "Nutella pancakes, it is."

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Chapter twenty-three

Chapter 22

Byron was already flipping pancakes by the time Ana wandered into the kitchen, his bare back flexing as he worked the pan like he was born to it. She leaned against the doorway in silence for a moment, watching him.

He slid the plate of pancakes onto the counter and jerked his chin toward the mug sitting by the machine.

"Help yourself to a brew, love. Made the good stuff. None of that instant shite."

Ana padded over, lifting the mug and taking a deep whiff.

"Oof. The fancy stuff," she said, eyes closing for a second. "I have missed this."

She took a sip-black, no sugar, no anything, as usual.

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