Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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Duke was beaming about the prospect of joining me in Frankfurt for the weekend, but it didn't last long.

His expression fell and he asked, "We have a plan for the next weekend, but what about tonight?"

I didn't want to go to London randomly, no matter what Duke had on his mind. "I'm afraid that without preparations in advance, we might attract unwanted attention. On the other side, if we go further away, it will take time. We can stay here. I will ask my staff to prepare dinner."

"I don't have sleepwear.", Duke said without missing a beat.

My eyes widened in shock at his words. I was not inviting him to stay the night. "You will not need sleepwear."

He arched his handsome eyebrow at me, and I wondered what's going on in his mind.

Well, I didn't need to wait for long, because he spoke a few seconds later, "Oh? You prefer that we sleep in underwear? Or don't tell me…", he swallowed hard. "Nude? It's not that I'm complaining, but for someone who was putting restrictions on kisses, this is…"

"Please, stop talking!", I shouted in panic.

His brain must be wired differently in ways so that he doesn't understand what it means to slow down.

We just reunited after seven years and he was casually talking about buying a house, cohabiting, and sleeping together. Nude!

I wanted to ask him if he is aware of all the steps he skipped, like flowers and dates and proposing, but I feared that he will produce flowers and a ring from somewhere as a shortcut to get me into the bed with him. Nude!

Duke burst into laughter and pulled me into a hug. He kissed my cheek and murmured, "I love to see you blushing."

I cocked my eyebrow at him. "Really? Are you pretending that it was just a joke? If I said fine, would you pass on it?"

He smiled mischievously. "I would not refuse my lady."

I narrowed my eyes at him. Duke knew that I saw through him, yet he still owned it.

Duke spoke like he was teasing me, but I knew that if I agreed he would roll with it. Shameless man! My shameless man.

Ah, I can't get angry at him and that means I'm doomed!

Duke gave me another kiss on the cheek before speaking seriously, "I'm sorry if this seems overwhelming, but I am just excited to be with you. I can assure you that I will follow your pace, and the only thing I want is an opportunity to prove myself. I want to dispel any doubts you might have about me. No matter what happens, I will keep you safe and I will not leave. I promise."

And that is how we ended up chatting some more, having dinner, and more chatting, and right now I'm taking a shower while Duke is in the guest bedroom.

Why is he still here?

I have no idea how, but he managed to swindle me to sleep here so that we maximize our time together.

I was determined to send him home for the night because having him nearby might be too tempting, but he pointed out that tomorrow I will return to Italy, and we will not see each other for five whole days and… I'm weak and I agreed to it.

Damn it, Duke can trick me easily and I knew that it will be safer for him to leave, yet the idea of having him in the same apartment brought me a sense of peace and joy.

However, it was not exactly tricking me because five days without him sounds like five eternities, and I didn't want to part from him. Will I be able to function with his scent lingering around me?

I was thinking about Duke a lot, and now that I felt his embrace and tasted his lips, for real, I knew that I will be counting minutes until we see each other again.

I took an extra-long shower while thinking about the day with a smile on my face.

I had fun. I really-really had fun with Duke and I feel like I'm floating.

This reality with Duke is like my memories mixed with my dreams and it turned out better than I ever imagined it to be.

He is still the same Duke that makes me smile, and he is the only one who brings with him the feeling of protection while stirring the butterflies in my stomach. He is a unique presence in my life, and now I also know that he is mine. Just mine.

Ah! Tomorrow, Calista will demand to hear the details and I have no idea which parts to share and which to omit because every moment with Duke is precious.

I got out of the bathroom and froze at the sight in front of me.

"Why are you in my bed?", I asked the shameless handsome guy whose smile told me he approves of my nightwear.

Duke was lying on my bed; the cover hid his legs all the way up to his waist and I wondered if he is wearing anything other than the t-shirt.

Subconsciously, I tugged the silky fabric lower. The chemise reached half of my thighs, and it covered all the important parts, but somehow… I felt naked.

"Will you be able to sleep knowing that I'm in the same apartment and not next to you?", he responded with a question.

"And how do you think I will be able to sleep with you in my bed?"

"Our bed.", he corrected me with a smug smile, as if he can see the struggle within me as I fought against my urge to jump in the bed with him.

He pushed the cover to the side, revealing the off-white silky bedsheets. "Come on, Serina. I want to hold you. I promise that my hands will not wander."

"Your hands are not the body part I'm worried about."

His lips twitched as he tried to suppress the grin which settled on his face.

"You know, Serina…", he drawled. "I often dreamed about the two of us holding each other through the night. We would hold each other and talk or sometimes stay like that in silence. I wonder if holding you for real will feel so good…"

I would call him a liar if not for the fact that I was having the same dreams.

I will never admit those dreams to him openly. It's too embarrassing.

Was he really dreaming about me?

I was wondering how it will feel to sleep in Duke's embrace and waking up next to him.

Looking at his expectant expression I felt my resistance crumbling.

What's the worst that can happen?

We are both grownups and to say that I don't want to sleep in his arms would be a lie.

I have no idea at what point I reached the bed or when I got under the cover, but I was well aware of the scent of pine trees mixed with the ocean that filled me up completely when I took a deep breath.

I settled into him perfectly, just like many times before when I dreamed about him.

Duke hummed in satisfaction and cradled me in his arms naturally, and then he placed a longing kiss on my forehead.

It was all new, yet so familiar and I found myself relaxing completely, against my expectations.

"Sleep, beautiful…", he murmured, and I smiled as I drifted off into sleep while fisting Duke's t-shirt and hoping that he will be there when I wake up.

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