The morning light slipped through the curtains like a gentle intruder, painting the room in a soft, golden haze. The air smelled faintly of his cologne, still clinging to her skin, mingling with the warmth of the sheets. Clara stirred first, her body languid, every muscle heavy with a delicious ache—a tender reminder of how completely Nicholas had claimed her the night before.
She blinked against the glow, her lashes fluttering as her gaze drifted instinctively to the man beside her.
Nicholas lay on his back, one arm stretched loosely above his head, the other resting where it had curled protectively around her through the night. The sheets had slipped low around his waist, baring the expanse of his chest and the long lines of muscle that tapered down, half hidden in shadow. His breathin
