The dawn after the reckoning was not a gentle awakening, but a slow, golden immersion into a new world. Isabella woke to the feel of Alessandro’s arm draped heavily over her waist, his breathing a steady rhythm against her back. For the first time, the intimacy didn’t carry the sharp aftertaste of captivity or the frantic energy of stolen moments. It felt… domestic. A terrifying and thrilling normalcy.
He was already awake. She could feel the alert stillness in his body, the way his fingers absently traced patterns on her hip. When she shifted to look at him, his stormy eyes were clear, focused on her with a quiet intensity that made her breath catch.
“No calls? No emergencies?” she asked, her voice husky with sleep.
“The world can wait,” he said, his voice a low rumble. He leaned in an
