The bedroom was too quiet. No buzzing consultants. No James pacing with a clipboard. No digital vultures circling her mistakes.
Just the slow, grounding rhythm of Daniel's heart under her ear.
Regina lay curled on his chest, her silk robe damp and clinging to her skin with sweat, adrenaline, and something unspoken and still trembling between them. Her fingers had found the hem of his shirt and clung to it like a lifeline, as if letting go might send her spiraling all over again.
She was tired. Completely spent. She could feel the dread clinging so hard to her body. How was she going to survive this storm without a single scratch?
And if Victoria wanted victory. This was the worst way to do it and the dirtiest!
That woman was definitely nasty to think of this.
Daniel's hand moved in circles across her back. Not possessive. Not rushed. Just… there. Warm. Patient. Like he was undoing all the knots the world had tied inside her.
