A shaking hand stroked her hair, and his cheek pressed against her forehead as he curled the tall length of his body around hers protectively. Her nose slid easily into the crevice between his chin and neck and she breathed his ambrosial scent in. They have no power over you any longer. “Please tell me this is ok — holding you like this,” Ari said, fingertips playing over her skin. “I need you to be ok,” he whispered, his voice breaking. She wasn’t ready to talk yet. Instead, she found his hand with hers and looped their pinkies together. He squeezed back tight in understanding.
