Bella stirred beneath the heavy silk sheets, sunlight spilling across the room in a golden cascade. Her body ached in all the right ways, the remnants of last night’s passion leaving her trembling and restless. She turned, feeling the warmth of the bed beside her, and froze. Damien was there, his muscular form curled protectively around her, the scent of his cologne—rich, dark, intoxicating—clinging to the air between them.
“You’re mine now,” he murmured, voice low and rough, brushing a kiss along the curve of her shoulder. The words sent a shiver down her spine, a combination of exhilaration and fear.
Bella’s mind raced. Mine? But… can I trust him? The thought clawed at her, twisting her stomach into knots. She had surrendered to him willingly, given in to the raw pull between them, yet
