Janella woke up to find herself wrapped in the Marquess' arms.
As she pondered the meaning of their time together, the Marquess began to stir. She could feel him shifting behind her, and she braced herself for the awkwardness that would surely follow. But instead of pulling away, the Marquess simply shifted his position so that they were facing each other. He looked into her eyes, and a slow smile spread across his face.
"Good morning," he said softly. "How did you sleep?"
"I slept well," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "And you?"
"I slept better than I have in a long time," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's rare that I find someone who can make me feel so at ease. I am honored that you chose to spend the night with me."
She felt a warmth spread through her at his words. She had never felt so appreciated, so valued, by anyone before. She found herself at a loss for words, and instead simply nodded, unable to speak.
The Marquess reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You are so beautiful," he murmured. "And so very special."
She felt her cheeks grow hot, and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She had never been one to take compliments easily, and his words made her feel exposed and vulnerable. But she also felt a sense of deep gratitude, and she couldn't deny the attraction she felt towards him.
"You are very kind to say that," she finally said, her voice shaking slightly. "I don't know what to say in response."
He smiled, and reached out to take her hand in his. "You don't need to say anything," he said. "Just know that I meant every word."
She looked down at their joined hands, and felt a wave of emotion wash over her. There was something about him that made her feel safe and protected, and she found herself longing to stay in his presence.
But she knew that she couldn't stay here forever. The real world was waiting for her outside of this room, and she had responsibilities that she couldn't ignore. With a heavy heart, she slowly withdrew her hand from his.