Estella felt something heavy pinning her down in her sleep. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't escape. It felt suffocating—like an invisible force was wrapped tightly around her, holding her in place. In her dazed state, her limbs felt sluggish, weighed down. She frowned, her body instinctively tensing, and with effort, she forced her heavy eyelids open.
At first, her vision was blurry, shapes swirling together, but as the sleep cleared from her eyes, the realization hit her like cold water.
A hand.
A strong arm was wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her against a hard, warm chest. She blinked rapidly, confusion turning to sharp alarm when her eyes landed on the face inches away from hers.
Crassus.
Her sleepiness vanished instantly, her heart leaping to her throat. She tried to wriggle free from his grip, but his arm was like iron—unyielding, caging her in as if she belonged there.
What the hell?
