Soi began to relax, the lingering scent of Nakago on the pillow wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. It reminded her of her favorite flower in the garden—soothing, intoxicating, and oddly grounding. She bit her lip and smiled softly, momentarily content.
And then she heard his footsteps approaching the bed.
Her heartbeat quickened once more, the calm she had found vanishing in an instant. But she refused to move, tightening her hold on the pillow. She decided she would stay put, clinging to the sliver of courage she had left.
The mattress dipped as Nakago climbed onto the bed and lay down on the right side.
Soi swallowed hard. Her nerves were a whirlwind again. In her earlier panic, she hadn’t really allowed herself to look at him properly. But now she couldn’t help it.
Naka
