Aria’s POV
I woke up to the sound of birds and rushing water. My body felt heavy, my head foggy, like I’d been caught in a strange dream that wouldn’t let go. For a second, I didn’t move. I just laid there, staring up at the tall trees above me. The ground beneath me was soft with the mat Cassian had pulled over us last night. My heart thudded in my chest.
It had to be a dream. All of it. The kisses, his hands on me, the way he whispered my name like it was the only word that mattered. The way my body responded, how I gave in, how I…
My chest tightened. No. It couldn’t be real. I squeezed my eyes shut, breathing hard, telling myself I’d imagined it. I was eighteen. Barely a few months into adulthood. There was no way I had actually...
I shifted and winced. A sharp soreness burned deep
