Jessica stirred awake slowly, her body tingling with a strange but satisfying ache. For a moment, disorientation clouded her mind. Then the memories of the previous night rushed in, leaving her breathless.
Her gaze shifted to the man lying beside her. Damon was still asleep, his features softened in repose. His arm draped protectively across her waist, and his steady breathing filled the quiet room.
Jessica's first instinct was to curl closer, to let the warmth and safety of his embrace lull her back to sleep. But something tugged at her— an urgency, a need to process everything without the influence of his proximity.
Carefully, she slid out from under his arm, her movements deliberate to avoid waking him. She tiptoed around the bed to collect her dress which lay crumpled on the floor by the bathroom door.
