The first light of dawn was a pale, grey promise at the window when Ishin woke. He didn’t open his eyes; he listened. The deep, even rhythm of Urvashi’s breathing beside him had a subtle tension in it, a held quality. She was already awake, lying perfectly still.

He rolled over without a word, his body covering hers in the warm dimness of their chamber. One hand slid beneath her neck, tilting her face up to meet his descending kiss. It wasn’t gentle. It was a claiming, deep and hungry, his tongue mapping the familiar territory of her mouth with a possessiveness that had only grown fiercer over six months. She responded instantly, a soft moan vibrating against his lips, her arms coming up to wrap around his broad back, her nails scoring the hard muscle.