Page 194 of A Vicious Love

I tore my jacket off one shoulder and wrapped it around her back, dragging the soaked fabric over her as much as I could.

It was uselessly wet, but it covered her.

Her breath came too fast.

Tiny, sharp pulls.

Panic.

I had caused enough of it in other people to recognize the shape. The short breaths. The wild eyes. The body trying to leave itself because staying inside felt unsafe.

“Sienna.” I caught the back of her neck.

Her pulse beat frantic beneath my palm.

The contact hit me strangely.

My hand at her nape.

Her body in my lap.

Her trembling knees bracketing my hips.

The old part of me knew this position too well.

How much control lived in one hand at the back of a neck. Knew how easily breath followed pressure, bodies settled when command replaced fear.

Dom instincts rose hard, dark muscle memory beneath my skin.

Make her feel held until her body believed it.

My fingers spread gently at the base of her skull.

“Look at me,” I said.

She tried.

“I—” Her voice broke into another cough.

“I know.” I pulled her closer, cheek brushing her wet hair. “Don’t talk yet. Breathe.”

Her hands clutched at my shirt.

I lowered my voice, letting it go rough and steady. “In through your nose.”

Her breath hitched again. I tightened my hand slightly at her neck. Firm enough to cut through the panic.

“Sienna. In.”

She dragged in a broken breath.

“Good girl. Hold.”

Her shoulders trembled.

“Out.”

She exhaled against my throat, shaking so hard my arms locked around her.