Chapter 42

• My skin could only sense warmth, but I was still at ease, confident, and, dare I say it, safe. My hand was resting on the arm that secured me to the bed as well as to the powerful body that was the source of my warmth and my source of comfort. The very act of embracing me drove the nightmares that had plagued me away. for a very long time. I had only ever experienced this feeling once before thanks to a hug, which I had been denied of my whole life.
• Trust. strongly trusting in someone or something because you know they are trustworthy, true, capable, or strong. a terrifyingly lethal feeling that, with just one word, might endanger your life. Putting your confidence in someone might just as easily lead to death as it can to life. I tightened, turning like a stiff, immobile board. I held my breath as this unexpected understanding forced all the oxygen out of my lungs. This was not intended to occur.
• His regular, slow breathing indicated to me that he was still sleeping and unconcerned with the outside world or with me. My hair was stirred by the still air's disruption, which also tickled and warmed my skin. In my haste to escape, I attempted to push his arm away from my body, but my muscles were still sluggish and frail from sleep. My abdomen moved beneath and away from his arm as I carefully made my way to the edge of the bed. He awakened up just as his arm let go of me and I was able to get out from beneath the covers. Suddenly, both of his arms encircled me tightly, pulling me back into his chest.