Valerius set me down on his bed. Carefully, treating me like I was made of glass, he laid me down on the soft mattress, the silky sheets cool against my skin. He laid next to me, his arms around me, holding me closely, preciously. My arm slid around his side, fingers clutching his dress-shirt on his back. His warmth enveloped me, cocooning me in a bubble of safety and comfort. My face in his chest, Valerius shifted to a position comfortable for both of us.
He breathed in my scent, his nose buried in my hair. I closed my eyes, listening to his slow breathing and the soothing beat of his heart, letting it lull me into a calm state. He took deep breaths, slow and steady. The beast inside him slowly retreated, letting Valerius’s consciousness clear. I could hear how his heartbeat slowed down,
