The warmth of his lips was soft, gentle, a stark contrast to everything that had happened earlier. Nico kissed her forehead, then her cheeks, brushing away the salty tracks of her tears with his mouth, moving slowly down to her lips. It wasn’t demanding or rough; it was tender, filled with a sudden, overwhelming need to soothe her, to make her feel safe, to remind her that she was here, with him, and that nothing else could touch her.
He lifted her easily into his arms, her legs wrapping instinctively around his waist, her head resting heavy on his shoulder, still shaking with quiet sobs. He carried her down the hallway, past the guest rooms, straight into his own bedroom…the one place in the house that was entirely his, the one place he never brought anyone. He laid her down gently on th
