Claire froze, her lashes quivering like delicate butterfly wings. "What's wrong?" she asked softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Adrian acted as though he hadn't heard her, yet his arms instinctively tightened around her, pulling her closer with an almost possessive grip, as if he wanted to merge her into his very being.
Claire's brows knit together in concern. Was Adrian drowning his sorrows in alcohol? The thought softened her resistance, and she let herself melt into his embrace.
The heat of his body radiated through the thin fabric of his shirt, a comforting warmth that enveloped her. His solid, muscular chest pressed against hers, a fortress of strength that made her feel unexpectedly safe.
The faint aroma of alcohol clung to him, but from Adrian, it carried an inexplicab
