Chapter 22

Ford thrust into her once more, pausing for a split second that snapped into eternity, until all her body hummed, the light in the room seemed to crystallize into one tiny point above Ford’s head, then shatter, falling over her in a rain of golden shards. Ford jerked, his body tensing with his final movement before he collapsed to the side, out of breath and flushed.

Once Ford caught his breath, he pushed himself from the bed, silently dressing. Eliza watched without paying attention, her brain and body a muddle of exhaustion and euphoria. She didn’t know how he could jump out of bed so quickly—she thought it might take her days to recover.

“Stay here,” he instructed once he was dressed. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

“You’re leaving me here again?” Eliza asked, his words like cold water on her face.

“You’ll be fine.”

“That’s what you said last time.”

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he promised. “And I’ll bring up some breakfast, too.”