JASMINE
I woke up slowly, cocooned in warmth and the steady rhythm of Stephan's breathing.
His strong arm was wrapped securely around my waist, his chest pressed firmly against my back, and his breath warm against the nape of my neck.
The memories of last night flooded back in vivid, heated detail the way he had taken control after I kissed him, the reverent yet hungry touches of his hands exploring every inch of my skin, the deep, passionate rhythm of our bodies moving together as one.
My body still carried a pleasant, intimate ache, a sweet reminder of how real we had become.
For a moment, everything felt perfectly right. I wondered if I could truly stay in this world forever, build a life here with him and Jaden. But the thought of my mother waiting back home tugged at me, keeping me from losing myself completely.
I turned carefully in his arms. His eyes were already open, watching me with such tenderness that my heart squeezed.
