He jerked his hand away—not forcefully, but a sharp pain shot from my jaw straight to my heart. It made my toes curl in agony.
I hadn't fully recovered from getting drenched earlier, and now, after our confrontation, he suddenly let go. I collapsed weakly into his arms.
His strong hand pulled me close. Years of physical training meant I could feel the solid strength in his body. I was already weak, and I didn't want to fight anymore, so I gave in and closed my eyes, leaning into him.
"Getting bold, huh? Now you know how to play dead!" His deep voice rumbled beside my ear, still edged with anger.
My cheek stung from a few sharp slaps—painful, but I genuinely felt awful and couldn't bring myself to open my eyes.
When I didn't respond, maybe guilt kicked in. He scooped me up and carried
