Faye's POV
Stay. That single word lingered in my thoughts as his arm held me close. The grip was firm, possessive even, as though he had already made the decision that I would not be leaving his side. Not that I had the strength to resist if I wanted to. My limbs felt heavy, every muscle locked in place.
Drawing breath required conscious effort, and the idea of fighting against his overwhelming strength seemed utterly futile.
His head came to rest against mine, the contact light yet steady. I could feel the warmth of his exhale mingling with my own shallow breathing. Something twisted in my chest, caught between the urge to stiffen and the strange desire to sink deeper into this unexpected comfort. For the first time since he had hauled me into this frozen shelter, his presence did not fill me with dread.
It felt like he genuinely wanted me here.
