The morning light felt like a physical intruder, slicing through the heavy velvet curtains of my bedroom with a persistence that made my head throb in a slow, rhythmic pulse. I woke with a jolt, my body feeling incredibly heavy, as if my muscles had been replaced by solid lead overnight.
Every single inch of me was tender; a dull, deep-seated ache radiated from my core, serving as a vivid, pulsing reminder of exactly what had gone down on that mahogany desk in the study.
I rolled over, half-expecting the bed to be empty, but I wasn’t alone.
Theon was propped up on his elbow, watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle with heat. He was shirtless, the pale morning sun catching the sharp, dangerous definition of his chest and arms.
He looked like a statue come to life, but
