Leaving the others to their squabbling, he'll beckon me over to join him on the loveseat, pulling me into his side like a man starved for affection. I'll go willingly, drinking in his earthy, comforting scent as his calloused palms trace reassuring patterns along my back.
"Are you doing alright, my darling?" he'll murmur, lips brushing my hair. "This latest malicious strike from your father...I know it's taken a steep toll no matter how bravely you carry it."
I'll nuzzle deeper into the haven of his embrace, feeling the tension slowly unlacing from my shoulders as I'm surrounded by his strength. "I'm holding it together as best I can," I'll answer honestly. "Just having you here, having this sanctuary away from the ugliness beyond these walls...it helps more than you know."
Charles will
