Chapter 72

• I woke up in Hadrian’s arms, my bare skin pressed against his. This time, the marks he left were different—tiny love bites scattered across my body. He hadn’t fed on me, not this time. He didn’t need my blood; he just wanted me. And the realization of that made me happier than I cared to admit. A foolish grin refused to leave my face as I lay nestled in his embrace, pretending to sleep so I could stretch this moment for as long as possible. My rational mind tried to intervene, sending warnings I deliberately ignored. I wanted to hold on to this morning, this fleeting bliss, without thinking about what it might change or what it already had.
• I rested my head against his chest, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat while inhaling the intoxicating scent of his skin.
• “Are you awake, love?” His voice, low and heavy with sleep, broke the silence like the sweetest melody.