The first thing I noticed when I woke up was how empty the bed felt. The sheets were still warm, and the faintest hint of Thalindra's scent lingered in the air, a mix of her subtle perfume and something inherently her.
I reached out instinctively, expecting to find her still lying there, but my hand met nothing but the soft fabric of the mattress.
I blinked, my mind groggy and slow to piece together the events of the night before. Flashes of heated moments came rushing back a tangle of limbs, soft gasps, and the way her voice sounded when she whispered my name.
My face heated at the memory, and I quickly shoved it to the back of my mind.
Sitting up, I ran a hand through my hair, the mess of it reminding me just how little sleep I'd gotten.
Last night had been… incredible. It had also been my first time, and while I was sore in places I hadn't expected, there wasn't an ounce of regret.
But now, Thalindra was gone.
