I looked up. Silas's jaw. Still asleep, breathing steady. I glanced around—this was the room we'd shared six years ago. Nothing had changed. It looked exactly as I'd left it. My old skincare products still sat on the vanity, packaging pristine, though I knew they had to be expired by now.
I sighed. This was Silas's doing. Otherwise, the manor staff would've tossed them long ago.
My gaze drifted back to Silas, to the scratches on his shoulder. Last night came flooding back—those thugs at the bar, Silas appearing like some goddamn hero, the frenzy in the car... Heat rushed to my face. We'd had sex. And I'd started it. Christ, what was I thinking? I tried to pull away, but his arm locked tighter.
"Don't." His voice came out rough, sleep-worn.
I froze.
"You're awake?" My voice sounded just as wrecked. "You... you can let go now."
"Don't want to." Short. Commanding.
He pressed my head deeper into his chest. I felt his lips brush my hair, a soft kiss.
"You know what?" He breathed in my scent, then spoke, voice heavy with something suppressed. "These six years, I kept having visions of you. Sometimes you'd be sleeping next to me, but when I reached for you, the bed was always empty. I couldn't tell what was real anymore. Until you came back..."
His words stunned me. My heart clenched. "Visions?"
I thought of the silver at his temples, the necklace made from my ashes hanging around his neck. The pieces were falling into place.
"It's fine now." His tone was casual, like it was nothing. "After you showed up, they stopped. I sleep better. Don't need the doctors anymore."
I stopped struggling. Held him back instead. I didn't regret last night—I'd just panicked when I first woke up. Now, feeling his steady heartbeat, I felt safe.
When had I started softening toward him? When he replaced my apartment windows? When he dealt with Marcus? At the amusement park when I made him throw away that necklace?
Maybe all of it. Maybe even earlier.
"Let go," I said, squirming. "I want to look at you."
He loosened his hold slowly, dark gray eyes on mine. I reached up, fingers touching the silver at his temple. Those strands that used to be dark brown, now stark white. A dull ache bloomed in my chest. I hadn't been the only one suffering these six years.
I kissed his temple. He stilled, then rolled me beneath him. Sunlight caught his face, turning his lashes gold. Fire burned in his eyes, alongside something that made my heart skip—tenderness.
"Anthea." He said my name low. "You feel sorry for me."
Before I could answer, he kissed me.
His tongue traced my lower lip. My mouth opened instinctively. But he didn't rush in—just caught my lip between his teeth, tugging, releasing, sucking.
"Silas..." My voice muffled against him.
Finally, he deepened the kiss. His tongue swept in, claiming my breath, tangling with mine. Slow. So slow every exchange of saliva sent shivers down my spine. When he pulled back, we were both breathless. His forehead pressed to mine, lips still grazing my mouth.
I was tangled up again with this man who'd hurt me, who I'd loved and hated. I didn't know if it was right or wrong. But strangely, all I felt was joy and satisfaction. No fear.
Then my phone alarm went off. My heart jumped—today I was supposed to meet Julian. We'd both been busy, so we'd pushed it to this morning at ten.
I'd wanted him to help me fight for Olei's custody. But now...
I put some space between Silas and me. I'd made my decision.
"I need to go out today," I said, watching him.
His eyes sharpened. "Where?"
"To see Julian." I studied his reaction. "It's business."
