Morning sun sneaked in through the curtains, pale and bright. I lay comfortably on Alaric, his arms wrapped around me.
My body still felt warm, sensitive, a little shaky from last night, the shower, the rug, the way he had slowed down and held my face when he said my name, the heated s*x.
It just felt real. And that scared me more than anything.
“I have to go,” I whispered, even though I didn’t move, I still laid comfortably on his chest.
He held my wrist gently, his thumb brushing the bruise there, and then he pressed a slow kiss to it.
His mouth stayed for a second too long, like he didn’t want to let go.
“Mariel’s waiting,” I said quietly.
“Text me when you get there. When you are safe.”
And something in my chest blossomed, because he meant it.
I lazily stood up from his chest
