Tonia's POV
Time crawled by, and Kermit remained motionless. No violent jerking. No tortured sounds.
He stayed completely still against me. Gradually, I felt the tension leaving his body, the painful spasms becoming less frequent until they disappeared entirely.
My tears soaked through his shirt as I pressed closer to his back. The thought of what he endured made my chest ache. I could only pray that my presence brought him some relief.
Time blurred together. My tears dried on my cheeks. His body relaxed completely in my arms. A strange peace settled over us both, and exhaustion pulled me under like a tide I couldn't fight.
When morning light filtered through the windows, everything had shifted. My cheek no longer rested against his spine.
I blinked awake to find myself facing him, his strong arms wrapped securely around me.
Looking up, I met his gaze. Those dark eyes watched me intently. He was awake and aware.
