Chapter 60

AUBREY'S POV The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across the hotel room, the golden hue painting everything in a warm, dreamlike haze. The crisp white sheets beneath me were tangled, remnants of our passion leaving warmth in their wake. My breath was still uneven, my body humming from the night we'd shared. Knox lay beside me, one arm draped over his forehead, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. His bare skin was flushed, his tattoos a stark contrast against the bronzed tone of his body. In the low light, he looked almost serene, the hard edges of his expression softened by exhaustion. I rolled onto my side, propping myself up on one elbow as I took in the sight of him. The man who had always been a force of dominance and control now looked completely at ease, vulnerable in the most intimate way. A lump rose in my throat. I hadn't expected this—not the way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered, not the way he touched me with that mix of desp