"Deidre, stop."
Desperate and immobilized, she sobbed. Her body gave out. Gabriel wrapped his arms around her, his warmth, strength and scent all that anchored her to this world. He lifted her. Vaguely, she was aware of the cool shadow world followed by the warmth of indoors. She felt the plush comfort of a bed beneath her and curled onto her side, unable to stop crying. Gabriel lay in front of her and nudged her, until her body opened to him. His warmth cocooned her as he gathered her in his thick arms.
A temporary sensation entered her mind, as if a breeze ruffled through her thoughts. It was followed by warm energy that Gabriel pushed into her body to calm her. Deidre clung to the clothing covering his chest. Unable to stop shaking, she at least was able to breathe again and pulled his rich scent into her lungs. Her forehead rested in the nape of his neck, and she focused on the steady, slow rhythm of his heartbeat. Gradually, his warmth sank into her skin, and she lay still, exhausted yet soothed by the heat of his body.
He held her in silence. Fatigued, overwhelmed, Deidre was unable to summon the physical strength to move or the willpower to order him away. Her eyes closed, and she slept deeply, the first peaceful night of slumber since her last night with him.
*****
The next morning, she lay curled in his arms for awhile before moving. One bicep filled the hollow of her neck while his other arm was tight around her midsection. She felt horrible: Mentally drained, hungry, disappointed she wasn't at the bottom of a cliff somewhere.
"I'm not sure I should let you go." Gabriel's gravelly voice reminded her of one of the reasons she'd snapped in the first place. "You have an affinity for jumping off tall things."
"Gabriel," she whispered, eyes watering.
"No," he said. "I'm not letting you off that easy."
"Easy? This week has been hell." She strained to move, regretting she couldn't have one small moment of peace.
He didn't release her, instead drawing up the arm she used as a pillow to force her head against his shoulder. She wasn't able to maneuver in his firm grip. Deidre sighed, her body going lax once more. His body relaxed in response. His arm fell away, and she repositioned her neck over his bicep. She really didn't want to leave the comfort of his arms. Whatever she faced there was a million times better than whatever she faced away from him.
"Can you read my mind?" she asked.
"If I choose to."