His movements were practiced and deft. He had done this before. A few years ago, he had dried Nicole's hair when she was more submissive, almost like a contented kitten on the bed.

That first time Jarrod dried a woman's hair was with Nicole, and since then, he hadn't done it for anyone else.

Now, as he repeated the gesture, his feelings had shifted. Their relationship was beyond repair.

The warm air blew gently against her scalp. Nicole felt the warmth and tingled slightly but did not wake up.

The bed, Jarrod's own, was spacious, a massive 2.8 meters wide.

After a moment's hesitation, Jarrod climbed into bed and pulled the covers over himself.

The mattress dipped under his weight.

Jarrod had no intentions beyond sharing the bed, something he hadn't done with Nicole in a long time. On a whim, he wanted to experience it again tonight.

The blanket carried the faint, alluring scent of Nicole.

Jarrod closed his eyes, deeply inhaling the unfamiliar fragrance, savoring it. He thought the long-lost scent of Nicole's should have soothed him into sleep. Instead, it sharpened his mind, awakening something primal within him.

Struggling to maintain control, Jarrod fought against the raw urges surfacing within his consciousness. He exerted every effort to master himself.

But his body reacted quicker than his mind, driven by the proximity of her intoxicating presence. The pale skin, the soft breathing, and the red marks, all fueled his imagination in ways he wished he could suppress.

Jarrod's breathing grew heavier as he edged closer to Nicole's seductive figure on the bed. His broad hand slipped under the thin silk of the nightgown, pressing against her warm skin, kneading gently.

In the quiet room, the faint sounds of his rough breaths echoed.

This continued for a long time until a final, ragged breath escaped his lips.

Then, the trembling stopped.

Jarrod squinted and lay still for a moment. He withdrew his hand, pulled a few tissues from the bedside table, and cleaned up nonchalantly.

Afterwards, he rose and headed to the bathroom for a cold shower.

Emerging from the bathroom, still bare, Jarrod glanced at the still-sleeping woman on the bed and sighed. He decided against staying the night. It would be too challenging.

With that, he opened the door and left the room.