Morning light filtered softly through the curtains.
Noah Steele opened his eyes and, for a brief moment, simply watched the woman sleeping in his arms.
Xiao Mei lay curled against his chest, her breathing slow and even, lashes resting against her cheeks. The sharp confidence she carried during the day was completely gone, replaced by something unguarded and fragile. Noah smiled faintly.
Last night had been… intense.
They hadn’t even made it past the front door before restraint disappeared. Xiao Mei had still been dressed in her crisp office outfit, heels barely kicked aside, when he pulled her close. The woman who commanded boardrooms had melted into him without resistance, all composure forgotten.
It had been long. Too long.
By the time exhaustion finally claimed her, she’d fallen a
