Aria stirred slowly, the first rays of morning sunlight filtering through the heavy curtains of her guest room. The bed was a cocoon of warmth, soft sheets, plump pillows, no creaks or drafts like her old mattress. She blinked at the ceiling, heart fluttering as reality settled in. This wasn't a dream. No pounding footsteps outside her door, no slurred curses echoing through thin walls. Just peace, the kind she'd forgotten existed. Her body ached faintly from last night, the silk ropes, Dominic's gentle touches, but it was a good ache, one that made her cheeks warm with memory. She stretched, toes curling under the comforter, a small, shy smile creeping onto her lips. For the first time in years, she felt... safe.
She slipped out of bed, padding barefoot to the en-suite bathroom. After a
