Diana
That cruel voice in my head, the one I'd managed to keep at bay all day, begins to whisper again. Its words are harsh, merciless, tearing at the fragile peace I'd found earlier. I try to fight it, to hold onto the positive feelings from the day, but it's like trying to grasp smoke. That mental switch flips, and I'm helpless against the onslaught of negativity.
As I feel myself sinking, drowning in the depths of my own mind, something abruptly changes.
Warm, strong arms wrap around me, pulling me against a solid chest. In an instant, I'm enveloped in a cocoon of safety that can only belong to one person.
Dominicus.
The moment his arms encircle me, my heart blooms with an joy. Despite my best efforts to maintain emotional distance, I realize just how much I've missed him today. His familiar scent washes over me as he pulls me close, his voice a soothing rumble against my ear.
"I just want to hold you," he murmurs, his words a gentle plea. "Please... let me."
Just l
