Chapter 286

• -Beth
• Morning light filtered through the floor-length windows, casting soft gold across the bedroom. But I was already awake, curled against Zade's bare chest. His arm was draped over me like a shield, his breath steady, calm. I could feel the weight of sleep still tugging at him, but his hand flexed lightly on my hip, like even in his dreams, he couldn’t help but touch me.
• Last night had been... grounding. I hadn’t expected to fall asleep wrapped around him in his office chair, but Zade had a way of making even the coldest places feel like home. And when he carried me back to bed, murmuring soft things in Italian against my hair, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, this thing between us wasn’t temporary. That maybe love wasn’t a lie this time.