Ryder’s POV
The morning sun spilled across the terrace, casting a golden glow over the infinity pool and the calm, endless sea beyond.
I sat in a lounge chair, nursing a cup of strong coffee, eyes tracing the horizon but my mind wasn’t on the view. It was on her.
Samantha stirred beside me, still wrapped in the soft blanket I had thrown over her while she slept.
She looked peaceful, innocent, yet somehow every little movement radiated strength the same strength that had terrified enemies and melted my defenses all at once.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” I murmured, leaning over to brush a stray hair from her face.
Her eyes fluttered open, immediately meeting mine. That brief moment of silence between us was charged no words necessary.
The tension, the connection, and the memory of last ni
