Clay POV
I collapsed onto my bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into my bones.
With Emma, everything was different. I could see her in my mind's eye, her radiant smile and the way her eyes sparkled with life. It was as if a veil had been lifted allowing me to feel a connection deeper than physical desire.
I yearned to know every detail about her, to spend every spare moment in her company. And above all, I longed to hold her close, to be her protector and sanctuary. This overwhelming desire consumed me, a fire burning within that I couldn't ignore. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced since my childhood, a warmth and happiness that defied the darkness that haunted me.
But with Liz, the path I was currently treading, I knew deep down it was unsustainable. The thought of los
