Page 33 of His Mark

Lia was still in the tub.

Her body was completely still, her breathing deep and slow, her arms draped over the edges, her dark hair fanning out in the water. The steam had faded, the water now barely warm.

She had fallen asleep.

I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head.

Of course she had.

She’d pushed herself too hard, fought too hard,I’dpushed her too hard, and now, her body had finally given out.

I stepped forward, crouching beside the tub.

Her lips were slightly parted, her lashes dark against her cheeks, her body relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen even when she was a child.

I reached for a towel, then slid my arms beneath her, lifting her from the cooling water. She stirred slightly, a soft noise escaping her lips, but she didn’t wake.

I wrapped the towel around her, tucking her against my chest as I carried her into the bedroom. I set her down on the bed, then knelt beside her, running the towel gently over her arms, her legs, drying her off as best as I could.

She shifted, murmuring something incoherent, but still, she didn’t wake.

Once I was sure she was warm and dry, I pulled the blankets over her, tucking them around her body before stepping back, taking off my boots and slipping out of my clothes. With a quiet sigh, I slipped into the bathroom and took a quick shower. When I was done, I pulled on a fresh pair of underwear and sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through my hair, staring at the low flickering flames in the hearth.

I’d deal with everything else tomorrow.

I exhaled slowly and swung my legs up onto the bed, shifting beneath the blankets to lie on my back beside her. The mattress dipped under my weight, and instinctively, she shifted toward me, rolling slightly, her body unconsciously seeking out warmth.

She fit perfectly against me.

Her bare skin was soft against my chest, her back pressing into the heat of my body. The scent of her wrapped around me, making my wolf stir, restless and satisfied all at once.

I heaved a deep breath, willing myself to ignore it, but it was impossible.

My arm slid around her waist, my fingers grazing the curve of her stomach, holding her against me. Her body melted into mine, her soft sigh barely audible.

Something inside my chest clinched.

I had spent years keeping people at a distance. Years avoiding attachments, avoiding this. But now, with her in my arms, her breaths quiet and even, her warmth seeping into me…

I let out a slow breath, pressing my face against her damp hair, inhaling deeply. She smelled likehome, familiar, something that had been missing for so long I hadn’t even realized how empty I’d been without it. Withouther.

I tucked her closer, feeling the way her body molded against me, trusting me even in unconsciousness.

I let my own eyes drift closed, listening to the even rhythm of her breathing, the soft crackle of the fire burning low in the hearth. The exhaustion I had been fighting for days finally sank into my bones, pulling me under.

I squeezed her gently, my lips brushing the top of her head, and as I let go, finally let the darkness of sleep take me, I knew one thing for certain: I would never let her go again.

CHAPTER10

Lia

Silas was warm—too warm—and that was a problem. I had just woken up wrapped in his arms, his body pressed solidly against mine, his scent surrounding me: in the sheets, in my hair, everywhere, all around me. It was too dangerous, too comfortable.

So, naturally, I did what I always did when something felt too good to be true…

I ran.

Or, more accurately, I slipped out of his bed, careful not to wake him, and padded barefoot across the room. The cabin was silent, save for the rhythmic sound of his breathing.

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