Chapter 82 The Silence That Follows

• “Almost done,” Efrem murmurs, his fingers working the zipper of my dress up my spine. The soft rasp of metal teeth coming together fills the quiet room. When he finishes, his hands settle on my waist, his warmth seeping through the fabric as he pulls me back against his chest.
• “Beautiful,” he whispers in my ear. I lean into him, resting my arms over his where they wrap around me. For a moment, we merely stand there in silence, my back pressed to his chest, his heartbeat steady against my shoulder blade.
• But this peace can’t last. Not here.