A massive four poster bed dominated the center of the room, draped in deep crimson and gold silks that looked soft enough to sink into and forget the world entirely. Heavy velvet curtains framed a large panoramic window that offered a breathtaking view of the castle's private gardens below.
But what truly caught Julian's attention was not the bed or the view.
It was the elegant table positioned near the window.
Two ornate chairs faced each other, angled just close enough that whoever sat in them would find it difficult to pretend the intimate distance between them did not exist.
On the surface of the table sat a bottle of deep red wine, already uncorked. Beside it, two crystal wine cups caught the light from the window, glittering like they had been waiting there for exactly this moment.
Louisa closed the door behind them with a soft click.
The sound echoed briefly in the warm, enclosed air of the room before dissolving into silence.
She turned to face him.
