Velvet Passions: 18. Chains of Comfort

The morning after her surrender tasted of metal and warmth. Rose woke in his sheets, skin damp from the memory of what she had given, throat bruised from his mouth, body aching in places she had never known could ache. She expected shame to greet her in the dawn. Instead, she found stillness. And in that stillness, she still felt him, craved him and for the life of her, could not sincerely say she regretted her submission to him yesterday. She had to admit that it had been worth the risk. 

Adrian was already awake, sitting at the edge of the bed with his back to her. The room’s blinds cast slatted shadows across his shoulders, marking him like a prisoner of his own cage. His hands moved with precision as he poured black coffee into a porcelain cup. No sugar. No cream. He drank the way he touched—without compromise. She watched him silently, her thoughts in disarray.  

“You’re awake,” he said, not turning. His voice was low, controlled.

Rose sat up sl