Devon woke again sometime later to silence. Soft morning light, slightly brighter than before, slipped through the curtains. The fire was stoked anew, warm and steady. And Lucien's arm… had loosened just enough that Devon was no longer caged against him.
Lucien was still asleep, head bowed slightly, hair brushed messily across his forehead. He looked calm. Human, almost. Not the fearsome Alpha everyone whispered about.
Devon's heart thudded.
I need to get up… before he wakes.
This is quite embarrassing...
Carefully, painfully slowly, Devon lifted Lucien's arm from around his waist, inch by inch. Every brush of contact sent sparks across his skin, but he forced himself to ignore it.
Just a little more…
He shifted his leg out of the blankets, suppressing a hiss at the ache in his joints. His feet touched the cold wooden floor. Almost free. He held his breath as he took his first silent step away from the bed.
But a hand closed around his wrist. Firm. Unmistakable. Warm.
