When Brando slowly opened his eyes the next morning, the first thing he saw was Solenne's peaceful, sleeping face.
He blinked, and memories of last night's tender intimacy flooded back, leaving a soft, giddy thrill lingering in his chest.
He propped himself up as gently as he could, pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to her smooth forehead, then slipped out of bed and padded out of the room without making a sound.
He had no idea that the second the door clicked shut, Solenne, who had seemed fast asleep moments earlier, snapped her eyes wide open. Her gaze was sharp and clear, she hadn't been asleep at all.
She could still feel the faint warmth of his body on the sheets beside her.
She nibbled gently on her lower lip, and only closed her eyes again after a long beat.
Once they were both wa
