The sunlight seeped through the bedroom window, painting the rumpled sheets in hues of silver and rose. Zane, already dressed in a crisp white shirt that hugged his broad shoulders, paused by the dresser. His tie lay discarded, for now. His gaze drifted to the bed, to the soft mound beneath the duvet where Aria lay lost in slumber. Her blonde hair, a silken waterfall, spilled across the pillow and her shoulders, catching the weak light like spun gold. A small, contented smile touched his lips. He moved with a quiet grace, the floorboards a faint creak under his weight. Leaning over, he traced the delicate curve of her cheekbone with a gentle thumb. Her skin was warm, soft as a peach. "Baby? It's the morning, wake up." His voice was a low murmur, a caress in itself. Aria’s response was a so
