Under the Veil I Rule novel Chapter 23

She lay on her side with her back to Finnian, close to the edge of the bed but not so close that she might easily fall off. It was deliberate, almost like she was consciously maintaining that perfect balance.

Everything about her was impeccably composed, not a hair out of place, which only made Finnian's curiosity itch even more. It was like she was wrapped in layers, and he couldn't help but wonder if she was just as perfect underneath.

Finnian stood by the bed, watching Amara for a long moment before he finally lay down himself. But that itch of curiosity only grew stronger, and his body felt unusually heated.

He pushed the covers down to his waist, still feeling stifled, and loosened a couple of buttons on his shirt, contemplating whether to turn down the air conditioning.

Then, a tingling sensation spread through him, and he froze, eyes snapping open. Though he'd never been in such a situation before, being a normal man, he knew exactly what his body was telling him.

With a swift motion, he threw the covers off and sat up, startling Amara awake.

"What's wrong?" she asked, turning her head to look at him, her voice thick with sleep.

It was then that Finnian noticed the subtle redness at the corners of her eyes. Her gaze was dewy, her voice delicate. Beneath the covers, her legs were clearly pressed tightly together, a clear sign she was enduring something similar.

She was in the same boat as him, yet she held onto her composure without a word, without even a twitch. She was so "put-together", it was like she was cut out from a mold.