I carried her over to the bed and laid her down gently. She let out a soft sigh, sinking into the plush pillows with a look of pure, uninterrupted contentment.

Looking down at her, I felt an unexpected flicker of affection for this girl—she looked so vulnerable lying there, so innocent on the surface. Yet barely an hour ago, she had been fiery and persistent, challenging me to drop my restraint and take what I wanted.

Her unstyled red hair spilled across the white pillows in a vivid, chaotic halo. She looked up at me, her eyes tracking my movement, but I didn't return her gaze. I turned on my...