"I don't want to eat anymore."
Nina moved her mouth away from the spoon of oats Rodrigo brought toward her lips.
"You've not had anything to eat for two days," he said, his voice laced with a quiet, stubborn insistence. "Just a little more."
She shook her head, turning her face further away. "I'm fine, I can't eat anymore. Moreen has already run the hot bath, and I don't want it to get cold."
The spoon hung suspended in the air for a few tense seconds before Rodrigo finally relented, placing it back onto the plate with a soft click.
"Okay, that's fine. Let's get you cleaned up," he said, standing up abruptly.
Nina's mouth fell open in surprise. "What?"
Before she could make another sound or protest, Rodrigo closed the gap between them. Bending down, he lifted her up bridal style, hoisting her into his arms effortlessly.
