The Next Morning
When Rory opened her eyes the next morning, the first thing she noticed was a silver-white tail wrapped securely around her waist.
Xarion was still asleep beside her. His long lashes cast quiet shadows beneath his eyes, and his thin lips were gently pressed together. In the soft morning light, his handsome face looked almost unreal—like a sculpture carved from ice and moonlight.
Rory watched him for a moment, and his words from the night before resurfaced in her mind.
"Which version of me does your body prefer more?"
Just where had this guy learned to flirt like that?
Reaching out, Rory tried to move Xarion's tail off her waist.
But the moment she shifted, the man beside her murmured something indistinct in his sleep. His long arm swept out with surprising accuracy, pulling her straight back into his embrace and hugging her even tighter.
The silver tail followed suit, coiling more firmly around her waist as if declaring ownership.
