Katsuki lay curled around Yuki from behind, his large, corded arms draped heavily over her waist, holding her flush against the solid breadth of his chest. Even in sleep, his instincts were sharp, his body acting on the primal need to keep her close, to ensure she remained entirely within his hold.

She stirred slightly as his grip tightened, her body shifting against his. Sleep still clung heavy to her limbs, and with a soft, sleepy huff, she lifted her hand, fingers wrapping gently around his wrist in a silent plea to ease up, to let her rest undisturbed. She didn’t pull away, didn’t fight him—just tried to nudge his hold loose, a small, familiar routine between them.

But Katsuki didn’t let go. He never did, not when it came to her.

Instead, his hand slid slowly upward, away from her waist, gliding over the curve of her side until his fingers found the sensitive slope of her neck. His touch was firm but achingly gentle, no force, no roughness—just the deliberate, possessive weight of his palm pressing right over her scent gland, the spot that marked her as his mate.

A sharp, breathless gasp caught in Yuki’s throat instantly. Her fingers loosened on his wrist, her intention to push him away dissolving in a heartbeat. She knew exactly how sensitive that spot was, how responsive she was to his touch there—how it bypassed every defense, every thought, leaving only what lay between them.

Then, his thumb began to stroke. Slow, deliberate passes over the soft skin, pressing just enough to draw out every flicker of sensation, every spark of their bond. It was a motion steeped in years of knowing each other—from rivals who clashed constantly, to friends who understood each other better than anyone, to lovers bound by fate and choice. He knew exactly what he was doing, knew every reaction she would have before she even had it.

A shudder ran through her entire body, starting deep in her core and rippling out to her fingertips and toes. Her hand slipped completely from his wrist, falling limply to the bed, all resistance melting away. Her head tilted back unconsciously, resting against his shoulder, exposing more of her neck to him, a silent surrender.