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“Take it,” I croaked. “Take what you need.”

She did.

Driving hard against me.

And cried out.

I wanted to give her everything.

Every drop of me.

But as her breaths slowed…

Need gave way to heartache.

I rose upwards, sliding my hands around her waist and croaked. “Please… stay.”

30

NYSSA

Please…

Stay.

The words haunted me. Steady breathing echoed beside me. But I wasn’t asleep. I couldn’t sleep. Not after the messages. Not after the video. Slowly, I opened my eyes. And turned my head.

Alaric jerked in his sleep.

Lips parted.

His body shaking.

I stared at him in the darkness. Moonlight spilled through the sheer curtains, washing over his face. It caught every sharp line. Every hollow beneath his cheekbones. He looked exhausted. Like the night had taken more from him than sleep.

My gaze drifted to the bedroom door. A shudder ran through me before I could stop it. For one impossible second…

I could’ve sworn he was still standing there.

Watching.

Waiting.

I swallowed hard and looked away.

Please.

Stay.

My pulse gave a heavy thud. Like my heart had already made the decision my mind was still trying to outrun.

A deep, heavy murmur came as I rolled. Cool air kissed my toes before they touched down.

“No...”

The word scraped from somewhere deep inside him.

“Don’t.”