Iris's POV 

I stayed in his arms a while longer, letting the steady beat of his heart hold me together.

Eventually I pulled back, pressing one last soft kiss to his jaw before sliding off his lap.

“I should shower." I said quietly. "In my own bathroom.”

Rafael nodded, his hands lingering on my waist a second longer before letting go. “Take your time.”

I slipped out of his room and down the hall to the guest bathroom, closing the door behind me with a quiet click. The space felt smaller than I remembered, familiar in a way that grounded me. I turned the water on hot and stepped under...