Iris’s POV
I kept my eyes closed, my breathing slow and even, willing my body to settle into the role I had chosen. Every small movement felt calculated, every pause deliberate. I could hear Marcus shifting beside the bed, the soft rustle of his clothes as he moved closer, and I braced myself without letting it show.
Then the mattress dipped.
Carefully, gently, he lay down beside me.
A hand slid over my arm, warm and familiar, and I forced myself not to flinch. Instead, I leaned into it slightly, letting out a soft, sleepy sigh as though his touch was exactly what I had been waiting for.
“Hey,” he murmured, his voice low and close. “You really look worn out.”
I let my lashes flutter before opening my eyes halfway, just enough to meet his gaze without seeming fully awake. “I told you
