The heavy rain lashed against the bedroom window, a rhythmic drumming that perfectly matched the racing beat of Elara’s heart. The apartment was swathed in the soft, amber glow of a single bedside lamp, casting long shadows across the tangled silk sheets. It had been exactly three weeks, four days, and a handful of excruciatingly long hours since she had last seen Julian. The distance had done something to her; it had sharpened her senses, distilling her longing into a potent, humming desire that seemed to vibrate beneath her skin.Elara stood by the window, wearing only one of Julian’s oversized