A tiny, fragile, and utterly beautiful smile touched the corners of her lips, though her eyes were still wet. "One day down, Matteo," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You still have two days left to prove it."
.....
Soon, darkness fell and we crawled into the cabin’s heavy timber bed, the space between us dissolved naturally, driven by a deep-seated need for comfort rather than heat.
I pulled Lara against my chest, and for the first time in half a decade, she let herself go limp against me. I wrapped my arms securely around her waist, tucking her head under my chin. With her back pressed flush against my front, I buried my face in the silver waves of her hair, closing my eyes and deeply inhaling. The scent of raw honey, and the clean, distinct musk of my mate filled my lun
