CIARA
The heat in my throat felt like fire scorching away the icy sludge that had locked my lungs shut.
Air rushed back into my chest all at once, violent and sudden. I sat up fast, coughing frantically as my ribs expanded. My eyes snapped open. The high wooden ceiling of the master bedroom blurred overhead,
My hands were shaking uncontrollably, but the freezing, dead chill was gone. The heavy, dark weight in my veins had thinned out completely, replaced by a deep, throbbing heat surging from my chest down to my toes.
"Ciara!"
Hayes was on his knees right beside the mattress. His massive hands were locked around my waist so hard the metal buckles of his leather vest bit into my ribs. Sweat and blood were smeared across his forehead, and his face was wet. His golden eyes were wide, bl
