Page 62 of Sienna Rossi: Beyond Shattered Trust

“And yet, here we are, somehow forced to be in one another’s proximity for one reason or another,” he murmurs, sighing heavily. As he moves slightly, his foot brushes against mine, and he stiffens ever so slightly for a fraction of a second before he casually tries to brush it off as he crosses his ankles beneath the duvet, putting distance between us again.

“Some could take that as a sign,” I say with a faint smile.

“Not every sign is a fucking good one,” he replies, though his eyes drop briefly to my mouth before returning to look me in the eye. I have my glamour up, but with him, I wish I didn’t have to.

“Yeah, I know,” I say softly. “Then should we try to get along until you’re better and figure out whatever these visions are and mean?”

A faint mocking smirk curves his lips.

“No.”

“Why not? Don’t you trust yourself?” I ask, frowning slightly.

His gaze darkens, slow and heated as it travels over me in a way that feels far too intimate considering the small space between us.

“My control isn’t what’s in question,” he says quietly. “You have quite the temper now.”

The way he looks at me makes my stomach tighten, makes my body react in ways I wish it wouldn’t. There’s restraint in him, but there’s also memory, hunger, and something else.

“Well,” I say, forcing steadiness into my tone. “Can you blame me for losing patience when you’re this insufferably arrogant?”

He scoffs. “Arrogant isn’t the word I’d choose, but whatever helps you sleep.”

His arm brushes my shoulder as he turns onto his back, the feel of his touch lingering.

“As you wish,” I murmur. “The tome that mentioned the drakaths – can we view it tomorrow?” I desperately need to change the conversation.

“I already told Leo to have the tome brought to me,” he answers.

“Oh, excellent, I guess you’re doing better than I thought if you remembered to ask.”

He cocks a brow. “As I said, I’m fine.”

My gaze dips to those plump lips, and I lick my own that suddenly feel dry.

You sure are…

His attention flickers to my lips before he looks at me, and then he turns his face away, a deep frown furrowing his brow.

I guess that’s enough for tonight. I turn onto my side, my back to him. “Goodnight.”

For a moment, there’s only silence and the steady sound of our breathing.

Then the mattress dips and warmth settles behind me, not pressing fully against me but close enough that I can feel the heat of his body through the layers of clothes between us. His hand comes to rest near the small of my back. Not touching, yet close enough that I know if either of us moves even slightly, the distance will disappear.

He doesn’t pull me closer, but he doesn’t move away either.

And in this fragile space between restraint and surrender, neither of us sleeps.

My eyes fly open, and I feel a delicious jolt of pleasure rush through me, realising Jayce has his arm around me, his hand slipping under my shirt.

I bite my lip, trying my best not to press myself into him, although I can feel the heat of his body against my back. For someone who doesn’t want me, he sure seems to like to hold me.

I smile softly, but these moments give me strength and hope, and if I want them to continue, I’d better not push it. I stay still, resisting the urge to remove his hand. His fingers caress my stomach, and my core clenches.

Gods, Jayce…

If only he knew what he does to me. I have to move before he refuses to let this happen ever again. I slowly lift his hand from my waist. He lets out a little groan, but I manage to slide out of the bed and onto the floor, turning slowly to see he’s still asleep.