Aurora's POV
He hauled me onto his lap with a sudden, violent strength that knocked the air from my lungs. I gasped, my hands flying to his bare chest as he began to kiss me—not with the gentle, sweet affection of my Oliver, but with a hungry, desperate ferocity. It was too much, too fast. My mind was still reeling from the echoes of Raymond's voice.
"Oliver, stop!" I pushed against his shoulders, shoving him back.
He blinked, the dark cloud in his eyes flickering for a second. He looked dazed, as if he were waking up underwater. "Aurora... I—I'm sorry," he rasped, his voice thick with a physical pain I could almost feel. He pulled away and tried to stand, but his legs gave out.
I rushed to catch him, my small frame straining under his weight as he staggered. "I'll be fine," he lied, his skin burning against mine. "I'll go... I'll go cool off outside. The air..."
