The soft morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. Catherine woke up slowly, the familiar warmth of Lucius beside her grounding her to the present. Last night still lingered in the air between them, but there was a quiet understanding now, a shift in the way they were both feeling. The intimacy they shared was no longer just about desire—it was about something deeper. Something that had always been there but now felt more real than ever.
Lucius stirred beside her, his hand reaching out instinctively to find hers. His fingers brushed against her skin, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. They had both been through so much together, and now, in this shared silence, it felt as though they didn’t need words to communicate. Just th
