"Zarek, no," Roxy breathed, wrapping her arms around her own waist. "I... I can't do that. It's not a good experience that I want to repeat. Please don't ask me to go back to that mindset."
Zarek's golden eyes flickered, a sudden shadow of insecurity crossing his handsome face. He swallowed hard, his jaw tightening. "You didn't like it then? Was it truly just a cold, mechanical act of survival for you?"
"What? No! Zarek, it's not like that at all," Roxy quickly corrected, her heart aching at the misunderstanding. She hurried forward, dropping to her knees on the soft moss right beside where he sat leaning against the stone.
She reached out, gently placing her small, cool hands against the blistering heat of his massive chest.
