She did fall asleep and he held her close, breathing in her scent, his hand stroking the satin of her skin. He didn’t know how long he did so, only knowing he could not leave her yet.
Eventually, she awoke and looked up at him, a smile curling about her lips.
“Can we do it again?” she asked, grinning.
“I cannot refuse you anything on your wedding day.”
While their first coupling had been full of fire and passion, this one was slower. Gentler. Yet just as fulfilling.
When it ended, Minta fell into a heavy sleep.
This time, Percy left her bed and returned to his.