Emily lay gasping in Arlott's arms, her body still trembling from the force of what they had just done.
Pleasure left her reeling, every nerve raw and oversensitive. Her chest rose and fell in uneven pulls of air. Sweat cooled on her skin where it pressed against his.
For several long moments she could do nothing but breathe.
Slowly the haze began to clear. Strength returned to her limbs in small measures. She shifted, carefully disentangling herself from the heavy weight of his arm, and pushed up until she sat on the edge of the mattress.
Her hair fell in damp strands around her face. She looked at him, expression complicated—satisfaction and residual heat tangled with the sharp return of wariness.
Arlott watched her through half-lidded eyes, one arm still stretched across the space she had left, making no move to stop her.
Emily's voice came low, steady despite the lingering unsteadiness in her body.
