Dare to Love: 15. Tainted Devotion (2)

The soft golden light of late morning spilled through Julian’s blinds, sliding across the tangled sheets and over the curves of her body as she slept, the slow rise and fall of her chest like the echo of a quiet storm. Julian lay awake, tracing her form with his eyes, memorizing every detail as though committing it to memory for the moments he would have to survive without her. His hand hovered above her shoulder, but he didn’t touch. Not yet. He wanted to savor the rare calm, the fragile intimacy before the world reminded him why this—they—were forbidden.

Amelia stirred first, a subtle shiver running through her as she shifted closer, her breath brushing against his chest. The memory of the night before pressed against her skin, raw and unrelenting. The intensity of his touch, the way he had claimed her and then held her, lingered like a shadow she couldn’t shake. She opened her eyes slowly, focusing on him, her gaze soft, searching, and a little nervous.

Julian watched her, n