Back home

ARIA

I didn't remember falling asleep.

But I remembered him.

The way he moved inside me.

The weight of his body.

The way he whispered my name like a secret no one else deserved.

I turned slowly, the ache between my thighs a dull, constant reminder of every way he touched me last night. My legs were still trembling faintly under the sheets. My hips ached. My throat felt dry.

And Kael was gone.

The space next to me was cold.

I sat up slowly, squinting against the morning light bleeding through the curtains. The sun was up—fully up. My skin felt sticky. My muscles sluggish. I had no idea what time it was. Could've been noon. Could've been ten minutes past dawn.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand.

One new message.

Unknown number.

Hey sad girl, you still alive?

I blinked.

Then rolled my eyes with a sigh.

"Of course it's him," I muttered.

I typed back quickly.