31.

Her arms remained wrapped around her bare knees as she sat over the mattress with her back pressed against its soft and semi-crescent headboard, resting her forehead against her knees and refusing to raise her sight from her lap as she could hear movement somewhere in the room.

She slowly breathed, revelling into that single moment of peace and closing her eyes as her mind carried her back to those moments with Emerick, her heart warming at the memory of the feel of him, his sweet scent and those soft lips...

She pushed out a sigh through her nostrils, a strong sense of longing tugging at her very soul as she realized how much she actually missed him and that she just wanted to be with him now...

Free, and with him by her side, protecting her and keeping her warm at night...

"Madeleine,"

She shivered at the sound of that masculine voice, mistaking it as Emerick's for a fleeting moment before quickly remembering exactly who was in the room with her.

She refrained herself from making an