Ah!" Gloria gasped sharply, her heart slamming against her ribs. She was convinced he was fully awake now, and sheer terror gripped her—she was scared out of her mind, bracing for another explosion of anger.
But mere seconds later, Lukas's eyelids fluttered shut again, though he kept her hand firmly in his grasp. Gloria tried to ease her hand free gently, tugging with delicate care, but it was no use; Lukas instinctively tightened his hold around her wrist, refusing to let go.
"Don't escape from me—not in my dream. You've been gone from my life for so long... can't you show me a little pity, just this once?" Lukas whispered, his tone laced with vulnerable longing. He guided her captured hand to rest softly against his cheek, pressing it there so they could share their warmth, skin to ski
