Elena’s POV
The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was warmth.
Lucien’s arm draped over my waist, his breath steady and deep against the nape of my neck. For a moment, I stayed still, memorizing the feeling of his body wrapped around mine—the slow rise and fall of his chest, the solid strength that had held me through the night.
His scent clung to the sheets and to me: pine smoke, leather, and something darker, more primal.
I smiled to myself. It wasn’t just about desire anymore. Something had changed last night—shifted in the space between us. The way he touched me… it wasn’t possession.
It was reverence.
Carefully, I turned in his arms, just enough to see his face. Even in sleep, he looked fierce—his jaw clenched, his brow furrowed like he was still guarding something, even i
