~ ZARA ~
Slumped with exhaustion, I'd dozed off in one of the chairs in my sitting room. A deep, dreamless sleep. I woke with a start when a hand touched my arm, and the warm, gravelling voice I'd been yearning to hear whispered my name.
"Zara? Wake up."
He was leaning over me, his white hair a shock of light in the dark room, which had only the very low glow of the embers in the fireplace because I'd fallen asleep without putting a new log on it.
"David?" I croaked.
He hushed me and leaned down, bracing on the arms of the chair, leaning in to kiss me softly, but deeply.
"I'm sorry to wake you, but I promised I would come and I didn't want you to think I'd lied," he murmured against my lips.
He seemed much more relaxed—but also much more tired—than when I saw him before.
"What time is it?" I asked, pushing up and out of the chair. David stepped back, offering a hand and pulling me into his chest the moment I was on my feet.
