Chapter 281

Morning light crept into the room through the half-open curtains. Jabco blinked slowly as he woke up. For a few seconds, he didn’t move. His body felt strangely light, rested, the way it used to feel years ago when sleep came easy. His head didn’t hurt. His chest felt calm. Too calm. He sat up and rubbed his temple, trying to understand why he felt like this. Then everything from last night came rushing back. Her face. Her warmth. The way she was in his arms. His head snapped to the other side of the bed. Empty. The space beside him was cold. No trace of her. No sound. No movement. His heart dropped. “Riyana?,” he muttered to himself. He clearly remembered holding her. He swung his legs off the bed and stood up, the sheet slipping from his waist. His chest felt tight now. He wasn’t a man who lost control like that. Never had been. He had been with women before. Enough times. But he had always been clear. Always in control. Last night… he wasn’t sure anymore. He hadn’t forced her. He kn