Elias's Pov

I woke up slowly. My body felt heavy, like someone had filled my bones with lead.

The bed beneath me was soft. Too soft to be mine. And there was warmth next to me.

I opened my eyes.

Ronan was lying beside me, still on top of the covers. His eyes were closed but I could tell he wasn't really asleep. His breathing was too controlled.

The events of last night came back in pieces. The heat. The pain. Ronan talking me through it. His voice in my ear, steady and calm, keeping me ...