Marcus smiled awkwardly, with a faint warmth lingering on his face as he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Jade’s cheek. She shifted closer to him instinctively, soft and trusting in a way that always disarmed him.

"Jade, go to sleep," he whispered softly.

"Mm."

Jade obeyed immediately, closing her eyes with a small, contented hum. The simple sincerity of it tugged at his heart. She trusted him completely, resting against him without hesitation, her breathing gradually evening out as sleep reclaimed her.

After a moment, Marcus carefully adjusted his position, as he tried not to wake her. His attention drifted toward Lily who was beside him. She had caused him no small amount of trouble earlier, pretending to fall asleep as she secretly watched him undergo the earlier delima with Jade, as if nothing had happened. The memory left him both amused and faintly indignant.

He reached toward her, intending to lightly tap her side in playful retaliation. Before his hand could get there, Jade stirred.

"Marcus, hold me."

Her fingers found his hand instantly, pulling it back and wrapping his arm securely around her waist. She nestled closer, pressing her forehead against his chest as if claiming her rightful place there.

Marcus let out a silent breath of defeat.

This little devil... it seemed tonight she was unwilling to give him a damn break.

Just as he settled again, warmth pressed against his back. A familiar presence leaned into him, soft and steady, the curve of a body fitting naturally against his spine.

"Babe," Lily murmured.

Her arms slid around his waist from behind, her touch gentle rather than teasing this time. She rested her cheek against his shoulder and placed a quiet kiss there, the gesture filled with affection instead of mischief.

"Lily," he replied softly.

The playful tension from earlier faded, replaced by something calmer and deeper. Holding Jade in front and Lily behind, Marcus felt surrounded by a quiet intimacy that needed no words. His restless thoughts gradually slowed, and the three of them drifted into sleep together, wrapped in the shared warmth of the night.

---

The next morning, the faint rustle of fabric woke him.

Marcus blinked blearily. Lily stood beside the bed, already dressed except for fastening the last buttons of her blouse. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting the room in pale gold.

"So early?" he asked, voice still thick with sleep. The clock read barely past six.

"Shh."

Lily raised a finger to her lips and nodded toward Jade, who remained curled against him. She leaned down gracefully, her hair brushing his cheek as she whispered near his ear.

"I’m making breakfast today."

"Mrs. Julia could handle it," he muttered, half tempted to pull her back into bed. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Lily smiled knowingly. "I know. But I couldn’t sleep anyway..."

She understood exactly what he was suggesting. With an apologetic expression, she leaned closer and kissed his cheek lightly, a silent compromise. When Marcus turned to return the kiss, she laughed under her breath, slipped away from him, and quietly left the room.

He sighed, fully awake now.

Looking down, he found Jade still clinging to him, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck. She slept deeply, with an innocent smile resting on her lips. During the night her pajamas had shifted slightly, evidence of how much she had tossed and turned, but Marcus quickly averted his gaze and adjusted the blanket over her shoulder instead.

Morning sunlight illuminated her peaceful expression, and he couldn’t help thinking how calm the world felt at moments like this.

"Morning light really is beautiful," he murmured.

He brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, intending only to wake her gently. Unfortunately, the movement stirred her sooner than he had expected.

"Marcus..." she mumbled, blinking awake.

He pulled his hand back immediately, embarrassed at being caught hovering so close. Jade’s eyes were still hazy with sleep, filled with uncomplicated happiness as she looked up at him.

"Marcus is so nice," she said softly, pressing closer as if seeking warmth rather than questioning anything.

Her trust made him straighten instinctively, forcing his thoughts into safer territory.

"Time to get up," he said, clearing his throat.

"It’s not even seven yet," Jade protested, clinging to him. "I want to stay like this a little longer."

She shifted comfortably against him, completely unaware of how difficult it was for him to maintain composure when she acted so openly affectionate. Marcus gently steadied her shoulders and guided her upright.

"Lily went to make breakfast," he said quickly. "Didn’t you want to learn from her?"

That worked immediately.

Jade’s eyes brightened. Recently she had become obsessed with cooking, constantly discussing recipes with Amber and declaring that one day she would prepare the best meals for everyone.

"Okay! I’m going!"

She scrambled out of his arms, energy replacing sleepiness in an instant. Standing on the bed, she stretched and grabbed fresh clothes without the slightest self-consciousness, focused entirely on her new mission.

"Marcus, what do you want for breakfast? I’ll try making it!"

Her enthusiasm was so sincere that he laughed despite himself.

"Anything you make will be fine."

Satisfied, Jade changed quickly and hurried toward the door, already talking about ingredients and techniques under her breath. The room felt strangely quieter the moment she left.

Marcus sat there for a while, exhaling slowly as he gathered himself. Mornings like this were dangerous in their own way, not because of temptation, but because they made him realize how much these ordinary moments meant to him.

Eventually he stood, got dressed, and followed his usual routine.

Breakfast with the girls was lively as always, filled with Jade’s proud commentary over small cooking victories and Lily’s gentle corrections. Afterward, he walked them to campus, exchanged casual farewells, and headed to the track for his morning jog.

By the time he returned home and washed away the sweat, his mind had fully shifted gears.

Marcus logged into Dominion, ready to continue his mission.