The bed was claustrophobic, a crushing pressure weighing on me. I lay tense by his side, gasping to catch my breath, his racing heart pounding in my thoughts.
His body was hot, his arm loosely wrapped around me, but a creeping cold wrapped around me. My skin tingled as I watched his labored breaths, waiting with anticipation to the point he slowed them, that tiny change signaling he had fallen asleep.
Wait just one moment.
I kept my body motionless, inhaling shallow, deliberate breaths. Every second drew out forever ahead of me, the weight of my scheme weighing against my hip. I had to be quiet. James tended to see everything; he was alert even while sleeping.
Nevertheless, I was driven to know what was behind that locked door.
The moment his breathing fell into the tranquil rhythm o
