Dominic stirred, slowly blinking his eyes open. The room was still cloaked in darkness, with only a faint sliver of light seeping through a crack in the curtains.
With a soft groan, he rolled over on his back, stretching his arms over his head. As his mind slowly woke up, the memories of last night came back to him, bringing a smile to his lips.
He turned his head to look at Arette, who was asleep next to him. She was curled up on her side, her hair splayed across the pillow in a messy tangle. The sight of her asleep, looking so peaceful and vulnerable, made his heart clench with affection.
Gingerly, Dominic reached out to brush aside a lock of hair that had fallen across her face. He let his fingers trail along her cheek, gently tracing the curve of her jawline. She stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep, before snuggling deeper into the blankets.
