Aspen’s POV
I woke to the sun painting golden stripes across Helio’s bedchamber, feeling lighter than air. My body, still humming with the lingering echoes of pleasure and Helio’s touch, felt almost completely new. The ache between my legs was the only uncomfortable sensation, and even that brought me comfort. Last night had been real. It hadn’t been some spectacular dream. I lay there for a moment marveling at the softness of the sheets, and I couldn’t help but think that this might be my reality for the rest of my life and how far I’d come from the rough scratchy cotton of the room that was more like a closet. A phantom tingle danced across my skin. I looked out the window watching a bird fly by, then to the empty space beside me.
Helio was gone, and the space beside me was cool. A pa
