Chapter 909

The alarm went off at the usual time, a soft but persistent chime that cut through the quiet of the master bedroom. None of us moved at first. The night before had been long and intense, and the heaviness in the air still lingered.

I cracked one eye open. Jasmine was curled on my left, face half-buried in the pillow, her dark hair a messy halo around her head. Nala was on my right, one arm thrown across my stomach, her hair completely undone and sticking to her neck. Both of them looked completely wrecked in the best way.

"Ugh..." Jasmine’s voice was muffled by the pillow. "Kill it. Kill the alarm."

Nala made a soft, pained sound and pressed her face harder against my side. "Five more minutes... no. Five more hours."

I reached over and silenced the phone. "You lazy bums."

Eventually Jasmine pushed herself up onto one elbow. The sheet slid down her body, leaving her completely bare. Soft morning light from the half-open curtains painted her skin in pale gold. Her breasts shifted with the movement. She yawned, stretching her arms over her head, completely unbothered by her own nakedness.

"Morning," she muttered, voice still rough from sleep and everything else.

"Morning," I answered, watching her.

Nala groaned and finally sat up as well. "I feel like I got hit by a truck." she mumbled.

I stayed lying on my back, arms folded behind my head, and simply watched the two of them. There was something quietly intoxicating about the morning version of them. No performance, no teasing, just soft bodies and sleep-rough voices and the easy intimacy of people who had already seen every part of each other.

Jasmine swung her legs off the bed and stood. She walked naked across the room toward the closet, the soft sway of her hips impossible to ignore. She pulled out a pair of dark panties and stepped into them slowly, then reached for a bra.

Nala followed a moment later, still completely bare. She stretched again, arms high, back arched, the soft curve of her stomach and the full weight of her breasts on display for a few seconds longer than necessary. Then she padded over to the closet as well, muttering under her breath about how early it was and how unfair the world was for inventing mornings.

"You planning on getting up sometime today, cowboy?" Jasmine asked, pulling a soft black top over her head.

"In a minute," I said. "View’s good from here."

Nala snorted weakly as she stepped into a pair of dark trousers. "Perv."

"You love it."

"Unfortunately."

They finished getting ready in a comfortable, sleepy silence. Jasmine came back to the bed long enough to lean down and press a soft kiss to my mouth. Nala did the same a second later, her kiss lingering a little longer, one hand briefly resting on my chest.

I finally sat up, rubbed my face, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My body felt heavy in a pleasant way. I walked into the bathroom, turned on the cold water, and splashed it over my face until the last of the sleep cleared. I brushed my teeth, ran a hand through my hair, and pulled on a fresh shirt and pants. By the time I stepped out of the master bedroom, the rest of the penthouse was starting to come alive.

"New day, huh?"

In the living room, Kayla was just sitting up on the makeshift bed we had put together for her on the floor. The oversized t-shirt she had slept in had ridden up high on her thick thighs. She stretched both arms over her head with a soft groan, the fabric pulling tight across her chest for a moment before she tugged it back down. Kim and Tessa were already up. Kim was in the kitchen pouring coffee; Tessa was leaning against the counter, still looking half-asleep but clearly amused about something.

"Morning," I said as I walked in.

"Morning, Master," Minne’s quiet voice came from somewhere near the dining table, already setting out plates.

Kayla looked up at me with a small, knowing smile. "Morning. Sleep well after... everything, girls?"

Tessa snorted into her coffee. "They look like zombies."

We stood there for a few minutes in the easy, sleepy morning atmosphere, coffee, quiet teasing, the soft sounds of Minne moving around the kitchen.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Carrie.

I answered as I dropped onto the couch. "Hey."

"Evan." Carrie’s voice was low and a little rushed. "Listen, I can’t meet after work like we planned. Something came up on my end. Can we push it to eleven instead?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, already imagining Nala’s expression. "I have work, Carrie. Leaving early again is going to get me killed. Nala’s already keeping score of how many times I’ve disappeared mid-shift."

"I know, I’m sorry. It’s just... it has to be today. Eleven is the only window I have."

I exhaled slowly. "Alright. I’ll figure something out. But if Nala murders me, I’m blaming you."

"Fair." There was a small, tired smile in her voice. "Thank you. I’ll make it up to you."

"You better. See you at eleven."

"See you."

I hung up and stared at the phone for a second. Another early exit from work. Nala was definitely going to give me that long, disappointed CEO look again. Still, some things couldn’t be avoided.

Around me the girls continued their quiet morning routine. Kayla was folding the blankets from her floor bed. Tessa and Kim were arguing softly over who got the last of the good coffee. Minne was setting out toast and fruit. The penthouse felt warm and lived-in and full in a way my old life never had.

I leaned back on the couch and let the ordinary morning settle around me for a few more minutes before the day properly began.

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