The morning after Lila left felt like the first real breath of fresh air in over a week.
I woke up slowly, still wrapped in Damien’s arms, my cheek pressed against his chest. The penthouse was quiet in that expensive, peaceful way, no extra footsteps in the hallway, no polite “good morning” from a guest we didn’t fully trust. Just the low hum of the AC and the sound of Damien’s steady breathing.
For the first time in days, the weight on my chest felt lighter. I shifted a little and Damien stirred, his hand tightening on my waist like he was afraid I’d slip away even in sleep. He pressed a slow kiss to the top of my head.
“Morning, baby,” he murmured, voice still rough and warm from sleep.
“Morning,” I whispered back, smiling against his skin. “She’s gone.”
He let out a long breath, al
