Chapter 2: In his arms
Lila’s POV
“Are you okay?” Derek’s voice cut through the dark, low and rough from sleep but still that same steady tone he always used when I was little and scared of the storm.
I choked on my spit, my whole body going stiff against him. My heart slammed so hard I thought it might crack my ribs.
“I… I’m okay,” I stuttered, the words coming out all shaky and small, barely louder than a whisper.
“It’s just the thunder… it’s stupid, I know, but it got loud again and I couldn’t…”
“Shh, it’s okay,” he murmured right away, his voice dropping into that deep, fatherly rumble that used to make everything feel safe.
He shifted a little behind me, one strong arm sliding around my waist and gently pulling me back until my back pressed flush against his broad chest.
