As the morning light leaked through the edges of the curtains, bathing the entire room in a warm hue, she became aware of the weight of her exhaustion. Everything hurt—places she didn't know existed—and her mind was coated hazily, full of cotton wool. In all this, though, there was a feeling of peace and contentment—feelings she had not known for so long.

She sighed before sitting up, wincing as her muscles protested the movement. In her head, it began to pound with the beginnings of a headache, and between her legs, well. there was some soreness there. She groaned and rubbed her eyes wearily. The last night had passed in a blurry rage of passion and anger, an exercise in surrendering himself to primal urges that had been churning below the surface far too long.