Mrs. Lira froze at first, her body stiff with instinctive resistance. But the warmth of him seeped past her defenses, quiet yet undeniable. Slowly, as if against her will, her arms lifted and returned the gesture.
The embrace was awkward at first, tentative, but then… she let herself breathe. For a brief, dangerous moment, she allowed herself to sink into the feeling.
A shiver traced her spine when her cheek brushed his shoulder. It had been years since anyone had held her like this, with such audacity, yes, but also with such unguarded certainty.
No hesitation. No calculation. Just the simple act of drawing her into his warmth as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"See?" he murmured near her ear, the words low enough to stir a shiver. "Not so bad."
Her lips parted, a half-formed reprimand on her tongue, but it never left.
