Chapter 52

DORIAN’S POV

I woke up slowly, like my body wasn’t ready to admit the night was over.

The fever was gone or at least, it wasn’t drowning me anymore. My head still felt heavy, but the crushing weakness had eased. I could breathe without feeling like my lungs were full of fire.

For the first time in hours, I felt… normal.

Almost.

I shifted, trying to get comfortable again, and my cheek brushed against something soft. Warm.

My hand moved too, instinctively tightening around whatever it was.

Soft again. Comforting.

I frowned slightly, still half asleep, my eyes closed. Whatever it was, it felt too good to let go of. I tightened my hold without thinking, letting myself drift for a second.

Then it hit me. 

Amara.

My eyes snapped open. And my entire body froze. I was lying on her.

My face was pressed against her stomach, my arm wrapped around her waist, and my hand—God help me—my hand was gripping her breast like my life depended on it.

Her own hand rested on top of mine, relaxed, like she’d placed it there herself in her sleep. Her legs were wrapped around my waist, holding me close.

The blanket had rolled down to our legs. Skin touched skin. Her warmth was everywhere.

My throat went dry.

I didn’t even know what shocked me more—how we ended up like this, or how my body had accepted it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I stared at her face. She was asleep, her lips slightly parted, her lashes resting on her cheeks. Peaceful.

I should move. I needed to move. But how?

Her legs were locked around me like a trap. I tried to gently pull one away but It didn’t budge.

I tried again, barely applying pressure. Nothing.

She only tightened unconsciously, pulling me closer.

My eyes widened.

“Amara…” I whispered, even though I didn’t want her to wake.

She didn’t.

Instead, she shifted slightly beneath me and let out a small groan—sleepy, exhausted, innocent.

Not that it mattered. My body still reacted like an idiot. I swallowed hard and forced myself to focus.

I tried moving my hand. Her fingers tightened on top of mine. Like she was holding me in place.

This was insane. And yet… I didn’t want to move.

The warmth, the closeness, the softness of her body against mine—everything about it calmed something in me that had been restless for a long time.

I stayed still. Not because I wanted to take advantage of her. Never that. But because she looked like she deserved sleep. Like she deserved peace.

And because last night…Last night, she’d stayed.

She could’ve left. She had every excuse to leave. I gave her permission to leave, more than once. I pushed her away with my words, with my attitude, with everything I had.

But she stayed anyway. She fed me, argued with me, and took care of me like I mattered.

I’d never had someone do that without wanting something in return.

I wanted her for myself. Not just her body. Not just the way she looked at me like she wasn’t afraid.

I wanted her presence. Her voice. Her stubbornness. Her warmth. I wanted the way she rolled her eyes at me like I wasn’t untouchable.

I wanted her. And I didn’t know how much longer I could pretend I didn’t.

She shifted again. This time more.

Her face tightened slightly, like she was waking from a dream. Her lips parted, then she yawned.

And groaned like she was sore. Her voice came out small and sleepy.

“What’s on my belly…”

I went completely still.

She blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering, her eyes struggling to focus. Then her gaze lifted and met mine.

For one second, she stared like her brain couldn’t process what she was seeing. Then her eyes widened so fast I almost laughed.

“Dorian?”

My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Amara’s gaze flicked down to my hand. Her body stiffened. Her face turned red immediately.

Then she jerked slightly, like she wanted to move but didn’t know how without making it worse.

“Are you taking advantage of me now?” she asked, her voice sharper than her expression.

My entire body reacted like I’d been slapped. I shot up so fast my head spun.