The chamber was quiet, save for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. The soft amber glow painted the stone walls, but Nicole could not escape the heaviness in the air. She sat on the edge of their bed, the blankets ruffled beneath her, her heart still unsettled after what had just passed between them. The memory of Jasper's smile cruel and tender all at once lingered on her skin like heat that would not fade.
The twins had already been placed back in the nursery under Rowland's care, and the silence left Nicole alone with her thoughts…and with Jasper.
He moved with deliberate calm, setting aside his gloves and black coat onto the chair, every gesture controlled, every motion a reminder of how he kept himself in check when it came to her. But even when he was silent, Nicole could feel the storm within him.
