*A few days later…*

Sleep came easy that night for Velador but I was not satiated. I gave him a few hours of rest before awakening both his mind and body so we could enjoy midnight intimacy. The mind filled in what the eyes could not see in the darkness and the body felt the rest.

Velador awoke in bed to find me staring at him and playing with his hair. He yawned and smiled, “Good morning.”

“My lord,” I smiled and kissed his chest. “Your skin is as cold as ...