Hazel was still shaking in my arms when I pulled out of her.
Her legs buckled hard and she would have dropped straight to the floor if I hadn’t caught her.
I wrapped both arms around her waist and held her up tight against my chest, one hand sliding up to cradle the back of her head.
She gasped for air, her orehead pressed to my collarbone, hot little puffs hitting my skin.
“Breathe, baby,” I said quietly, “I got you, just lean on me.”
She didn’t answer at first. Her fingers clutched my shirt like she was scared she’d fall anyway.
I could feel every tremor running through her, every shaky inhale.
I stayed right there, holding all her weight, rocking us the tiniest bit so she could catch her breath.
“You good?” I murmured against her hair, “talk to me.”
She let out a broken l
