Emily only pulled away when she tasted the warmth of blood in her mouth. Nicholas understood—it was her way of releasing her anger, a way for her to open her heart to him once more.
He gently withdrew from her, holding her tightly against his chest. "I'm sorry. I love you. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you," he whispered, placing soft kisses on the side of her head.
He had promised this before, only to fail, but this time, he was determined not to repeat the same mistakes. Emily, feeling drained and embarrassed, couldn't even bear to face him. She was too ashamed, even of herself. With her eyes closed, she let herself surrender to the comfort of his embrace, shutting out the world and losing herself in his warmth.
As Nicholas felt her steady breath, he slowly glanced at her, a soft smile forming when he saw that she had fallen into a deep sleep.