Elle’s POV
The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was warmth. A steady, solid warmth that held me like a shield against the world. For one blissful second, I let myself sink into it—his arm draped across my waist, his breath slow against the back of my neck.
And then the memory hit.
The night.
The heat.
The way I whispered his name like it belonged to me.
Aiden.
My heart lurched painfully, and I shot up from the bed, the sheets pooling around my waist. My body screamed its betrayal—sore, tender, marked in ways that would remind me of him long after I tried to forget.
“What have I done?” I whispered, my hand covering my mouth.
Aiden stirred at my sudden movement, eyes blinking open slowly. For once, he didn’t look guarded, or stern, or grumpy. He just looked… human. Vulnerabl
