I stirred awake slowly, the morning light soft and warm as it filtered through the curtains of my room. For a moment, everything felt surreal—like last night had been a dream.
But the slight ache of my body and the small, warm presence beside me were all the proof I needed.
I glanced over, and there was Ciara, still sound asleep, her normally sharp, piercing features softened by sleep. Her white hair spilled across the pillow, framing her face, and for once, she looked at peace.
The events of last night drifted back to me, a fresh blush creeping over my cheeks. I had never expected to go that far, at least not so soon. And yet… it had felt right.
Everything about Ciara, from her slightly arrogant smirk to her surprising tenderness, had felt right. Even now, I could feel the little bites and hickeys she had left on my skin, reminders of just how intense things had gotten.