---
Following Day
Dakota woke the next morning slowly with a heavy yawn, stretching beneath the soft weight of dark silk blankets, and for several seconds she simply stared upward at an unfamiliar ceiling of smooth black panels trimmed with muted gold and an enormous crystal chandelier hanging at the center of the room, morning light spilling through it in fractured silver reflections across the walls.
She blinked, voice rough with sleep. "Where is this…?"
Then the memories returned all at once: dinner, the drive through Nightshade City, falling asleep in the car, the dream, and Kade beside her in the dark.
Dakota exhaled softly and pushed herself upright against the pillows as morning sunlight flooded the suite and revealed just how absurdly luxurious the penthouse truly was. Floor-to-ceiling glass overlooked nearly the entire city skyline, polished marble floors reflecting ribbons of gold light across expensive dark furnishings arranged with sharp, masculine precision.
