Jayda froze the moment Damek pulled her against him. Everything inside her stopped at once.
The panic.
The shaking.
Even her breathing.
For a second, all she could feel was warmth.
His warmth.
One arm wrapped securely around her shoulders while the other rested carefully at the back of her head like he was afraid she might completely fall apart if he loosened his hold even a little.
Jayda’s fingers slowly clenched against the fabric of his shirt instinctively.
Warm.
Real.
Safe.
The realization terrified her almost as much as the phone call.
Damek lowered his head slightly near hers.
“Breathe first,” he murmured quietly.
Jayda shut her eyes tightly.
She could hear his heartbeat.
Slow.
Steady.
Completely opposite hers.
And somehow—
That made her breathe again.
Outside, r
