The next morning dawned gray and soft over the Jiunsu clan stronghold, the perpetual rain of the high passes reduced to a gentle mist that clung to the stone walls like a lover's breath.
Jake lay in the large bed of the private chamber, his body heavy with the pleasant exhaustion of the night before.
Sura was curled against him, her curvaceous light brown skinned figure warm and soft, her full breasts pressed to his chest, one leg draped over his thigh. Her dark hair spilled across the furs, her breathing slow and even in deep sleep.
The fire in the hearth had burned low, leaving a faint glow of embers that cast gentle shadows across the room.
The air still carried the faint, musky scent of their passion - sweat, sex, and the herbal incense that had filled the chamber hours earlier.
The door creaked open with a soft sound.
