The sun is just hitting their faces from across the room. Faith’s raven black hair is spread across the pillow in perfect pin up waves. If there was a camera in the room, it would be a boudoir photo incarnate, with legs intertwined and arms draped provocatively. Faith finds that she wakes without the usual bile in the back of her throat, something that hasn’t happened for her in a long while. Dorian wakes for the first time with a woman in his bed. Spending an occasional evening in a pleasure house isn’t the same as having a partner next to you. For the first time, Dorian feels the pang of loneliness that has been hiding below the surface. Even after the strange feelings Dorian had last night, they seem to have happened long ago and to another person as he looks adoringly at Faith. She couldn’t be more beautiful in his eyes and he is looking forward to their next romantic encounter even though he knows it is dishonorable. Languidly, they smile to themselves and detangle.
