LEONARD'S POV:

As she hugged me, her warmth wrapped around me like a soothing balm. Her body was soft yet strong, and I felt an inexplicable calm in her presence. I didn’t want to leave—I didn’t need to—but I had to. The longer I stayed, the more drawn I became to her. The attraction was undeniable, yet it made me uneasy.

When I looked into her eyes, they held a serene, unreadable expression. Was she as calm as she appeared, or was there something she was holding back? I wished, more than anything, that I could take away all her troubles, that I could shield her from everything weighing her...