NOMI
I didn't pull away. I couldn't. The secret I was now keeping felt like a lead weight in my stomach, but the physical reality of Darius was the only thing keeping me upright. I gripped the thick wool of his coat, my knuckles white, and pressed closer until there was no air left between us.
"I got lost," I whispered into his chest, the words tasting like ash. "I thought I heard someone…a child calling for help. I was a fool, Darius. I walked right into them."
His growl was a low, seismic rumble that vibrated through my own ribcage. He didn't just hold me; he engulfed me. His large hand remained tangled in my hair, forcing my head back so he could devour every inch of my expression. His eyes were scanning me with a terrifying, predatory precision, looking for a mark, a bruise, anythin
