Page 52 of Snowman

My chest tightened, the pain twisting deeper.

"A hug."

My hand hovered above his back before I pressed my palm lightly against his coat. My fingers trembled as they curled into it.

"A hug?" He finally turned his head, his eyes narrowing as he scanned me. "That's what you want?"

"Please," I said, meeting his eyes, tears still sliding down my cheeks.

His jaw tightened, his lips pressed into a firm line. Then, without a word, his hand reached for my arm. He pulled me to him, our chests colliding. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me in as though I belonged there. His head rested against mine, his breath warm against my hair.

And I broke. My sobs came in waves, uncontrollable. I buried my face in his chest, my tears soaking into his coat. I cried like I hadn't cried in years, each sound ripping out of me as if it could tear the pain away. And with each sob, his arms tightened, holding me closer, grounding me.

It was everything I didn't know I needed, just a hug that made the world disappear. One that let me fall apart completely without fear. I'd never had this before. My first kiss was stolen, my innocence taken. I had never been given something so simple. But now, this hug was his,ours. And I could've stayed there forever.

He might be a monster. He might be made of ice. But right now, he felt more real than anything else.

The tears kept falling, and with them, pieces of my heart. Everything I had lost, today, yesterday, Mel, it all came rushing in, crushing me.

Slowly, he eased his grip, pulling back just enough to see my face. His fingers brushed my cheeks, wiping away the tears as his eyes met mine.

And then I saw them.

They weren't brown anymore.

They were ice blue.

His eyes. Blue.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. My stomach twisted, and I felt my knees weaken beneath me. How had I not noticed? How had I missed this?

He pushed me back slightly, just enough to see my face. His hands brushed my cheeks, wiping away the tears, his touchsteady despite the storm in his eyes. I met his eyes, those eyes. They were ice now, sharp and cold. He must have taken out his contacts. I hadn't even noticed. I felt stupid for missing it. The icy blue of them crushed with the ocean blue of mine, like it was meant to be.

My heart pounded in my chest, too fast, too loud. I felt it in my throat, my stomach flipping in knots. My arms trembled as I held onto him, his stare was almost too much. My lips parted, and I realized how close we were, close enough that I could feel the soft warmth of his breath against my mouth.

"You're my worst nightmare, Bree," he said.

His eyes didn't waver, as if searching for something in mine, even as he seemed to lose himself in them. "You're haunting me."

His lips brushed against mine as he leaned in, his whisper so warm. "But I wish I could be your dream."

I didn't wait. I pressed forward, my lips finding his. His mouth moved against mine, his tongue thrusting inside, making my knees weak. It wasn't just a kiss, it was everything, pulling me under his skin. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers twisting into his hair, holding him as tightly as I could. We kissed until we were both out of breath and even then, neither of us wanted to stop.

When I finally pulled away, gasping for air, I let my forehead rest against his shoulder.

"What now?" I whispered, afraid of the answer.

He tilted his head, his breath brushing my ear. "Now," he said, his voice deeper, growling, "now you're mine."

His.

The word settled over me, heavier and more real than it ever had before.

I washis.

Only his.

EIGHTEEN

---