His hand still over Lyra's cheek, feeling how cold her skin still was.
She was trembling, her lips pale, Her lashes quivered.
His jaw tightened. He couldn't watch her shiver any longer. Pulling the blanket aside, he slid in next to her, gathering her into his arms. He doubted the method was going to work, until, she pressed into him, seeking his warmth.
The shaking in her body slowed, and he held her tighter, refusing to let go as though he was trying to merge their bodies into one or pass all his heat to her. He held onto her for about an hour where she was still cold but color was starting to fill her face and her shivers had eased.
But the longer he held her, the more dangerous it became. It became harder for him to stay calm. Her warmth seeped into him, her soft breath against his chest, stirring a hunger he tried to bury. Every time she shifted, every brush of her skin against his chest and his thighs, it chipped away at his restraint.
