40

Ethan's POV.

I opened my eyes, abruptly waking up. I looked around without moving any part of my body except my eyes.

I was in the room, the sun had not fully risen yet, so it was probably very early.

I cuddled up against the pillow as I used to when I was 5 years old and closed my eyes, hoping to fall back asleep, but the movement of the "pillow" startled me.

It was Minerva. She was nestled in my arms as if seeking protection in them.

I smiled at the sight of her curled up; she looked so beautiful, so small and fragile. How could a woman be so beautiful?

My mother had taught me that all women have their beauty, and each had a different way of showing it, but Minerva...

She did it all the time, for anything she did, when she was sleeping, when she was concentrated, when she ate, when she argued with me about some unimportant thing, last night...

I shook my head several times, shaking off those thoughts. What the hell was happening to me? Why was I talking like an idiot? If I kept this