Next morning, Alina stirred gently, her eyelashes fluttering open. Her head resting on Aiden's chest.

She smiled, taking in the sight of his face up close. As she began to move from the bed, Aiden’s arm slid possessively around her waist, pulling her deep into chest like he wanted her to enter him. She chuckled softly at the gesture. Even in sleep, he held her like someone afraid she might vanish forever.

Alina inhaled slowly, her body aching in places she hadn’t known would ache, ...