Chapter 35 Loyalty

• River’s POV
• I drifted awake slowly, my body heavy and drained, every part of me sore and sensitized from last night. The memories came rushing back, piecing together the intensity of what had happened the way he’d tied me down, taken control, pushing me past every limit until I lost myself completely. Just the thought of it made me shiver, a blend of exhaustion and exhilaration still humming in my veins.
• I shifted carefully, feeling a deep ache radiate through my arms, my legs, and especially between my thighs. My skin felt tender, each movement a reminder of how deeply he’d claimed me. I brushed my fingers over my wrists, where the faint marks of his binds had imprinted themselves, recalling how I had been utterly at his mercy. And yet, instead of fear and disdain, there was something else a rush of excitement that made my heart race.