Warm

Sleep refused to come, no matter how many sheep Ayesha counted in her head. Her eyes remained shut, but her mind buzzed with restless energy. Every little sound Alaric made pulled her further from rest—the soft rustle of parchment, the faint unrolling of scrolls, and worst of all, his scent. 

It lingered in the air like a temptation, rich and masculine, making her senses stir and her thoughts stray. No matter how tightly she curled under the covers, sleep kept its distance… and so did peace.

Then she heard footsteps approaching the bed.

Ayesha's breath hitched when she felt the shift in the mattress—the warmth of Alaric's presence closing in. He was beside her now. She didn't have to open her eyes to know. 

Even lying on her side, her back to him, she could feel him.

Then came his touch.

His arm slid gently around her waist, and her heart skipped a beat. Her body tensed as his