I had Elise pinned against the wall, still buried deep inside her while we both panted hard. My head was spinning in the best possible way.
The Ashroot was still working its way through me. It made everything feel golden and weightless, like gravity had loosened its grip. Every breath, every tiny shift of her body against mine, felt magnified—more intense. The usual walls I kept locked in place had been completely stripped away, leaving nothing but raw sensation and an overwhelming sense of connection.
Nothing in the world could touch us right now. Not the cold concrete at her back, not the locked door, not even the reality of where we were. There was only her.
I pulled out slowly with a groan, then scooped her up into my arms. She didn't protest at all — just wrapped her arms around my neck and let me carry her across the room. I laid her down gently on the bed and hovered over her, looking at her flushed face and messy hair.
We stared at each other for a long second.
