Iris’s POV I kept my eyes closed, my breathing slow and even, willing my body to settle into the role I had chosen. Every small movement felt calculated, every pause deliberate. I could hear Marcus shifting beside the bed, the soft rustle of his clothes as he moved closer, and I braced myself without letting it show.Then the mattress dipped.Carefully, gently, he lay down beside me.A hand slid over my arm, warm and familiar, and I forced myself not to flinch. Instead, I leaned into it slightly, letting out a soft, sleepy sigh as though his touch was exactly what I had been waiting for.“Hey,” he murmured, his voice low and close. “You really look worn out.”I let my lashes flutter before opening my eyes halfway, just enough to meet his gaze without seeming fully awake. “I told you,” I whispered, my voice soft and heavy with exhaustion. “It’s been… a lot.”He didn’t question it.That alone sent a quiet wave of relief through me.Instead, he shifted closer, pulling me into his chest,
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