Ethan closed the door softly behind them. The lock clicked shut.
Aria stood near the foot of the bed, towel still wrapped loosely around her, droplets tracing slow paths down her collarbone. Her hair hung in damp strands against her shoulders.
She looked smaller here, less armored, the earlier urgency drained away and replaced by something quieter.
Ethan stepped closer. He didn’t rush. He reached out and took the edge of the towel between two fingers, then slowly drew it open. It fell to the carpet without a sound. She didn’t cover herself; she simply let him look.
He traced the line of her jaw with the back of his knuckles....barely touching, just enough to feel the warmth of her skin.
Then he leaned in and kissed her temple, lingering there, breathing her in. The kiss moved to the
