Serena Stanton still hadn't recovered from the sudden terror. She stumbled forward, crashing into the man's arms, her legs numb and stiff from lack of circulation, going limp as if she might collapse at any moment.
Adrian's arm tightened around her waist, and effortlessly pulled her deeper into his embrace, supporting her tense, trembling body.
Serena's chest tightened, but as her body leaned against the warmth of his chest, the warmth slowly returned, and an unprecedented sense of safety washed over her.
The stark terror of that previous instant and the utter sense of security in this one collided, making her nose and eyes burn with a sudden, irresistible ache as a wave of tears threatened to overflow.
A single tear silently slid from the corner of her eye, tracing a glistening line across her pale cheek and leaving a crystal-clear trail on her fair skin.
