Derek awoke to the soft warmth of Alexa nestled against him, the first rays of dawn painting the room in hues of gold and rose. The memory of the previous night, the passion, the surrender, the forbidden intimacy, flooded back, sharp and vivid.
He looked down at Alexa, her face serene in sleep, her golden hair spread across the pillow. A wave of tenderness washed over him, a fierce protectiveness, a possessive desire to claim her as his own. But reality quickly intruded, a harsh reminder of the dangerous game they were playing.
He knew he couldn't linger, as much as he wanted to stay with her in his arms. The morning would bring the castle to life, the servants bustling through the corridors, the court resuming its daily routines. Discovery was a constant threat, and the consequences of
