Chapter 124

Mia woke to find Stefan's arm wrapped around her waist, his face buried in her hair. For the first time in weeks, she didn't feel the careful distance he had been keeping. His body was pressed against hers, warm and solid, the way it used to be.

"Good morning," she whispered, turning in his arms.

Stefan's eyes opened slowly, and when he saw her face, he smiled.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said, his voice rough with sleep.

They made love that morning, slow and tender, with Stefan's hands shaking slightly as he touched her. But it wasn't from fear anymore.

It was from want, from the weeks of...