*Maria*
Warmth.
A feeling of safety and comfort.
Something I haven't felt waking up in so long. I open my eyes to see a man's muscular chest. Usually, I'd scream, but I remember who this is.
The one that helped me where even Smokey couldn't. I snuggled deeper into his embrace.
“Mmmmm. Who-" A barely awake Aren said.
“Just a bit longer, okay." I said, trying to sound a bit seductive.
But for some reason, that made him shiver. He grabbed my shoulder roughly and pushed me away far enough that he could get a good look at me.
I suppressed any instinct to struggle because of the strange way Aren was looking at me.
Something was in Aren's eyes when he stared down at me. It was a strange mix of fear, relief, and sadness. It quickly faded into neutrality when he realized it was me.
