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He was coming toward her, a strangely surprising smile on his face. It appeared to be plastered on as he neared her still, his crystal blue eyes sparkling. She stared at him, confused, unsure as to what his true motives might be.
Conflicted, she actually started taking a few baby steps in his direction to meet him less than halfway. Should she trust him this time? There seemed not to be any traces of malice on his boyishly handsome face, and, although still uncertain, she didn't see any reason to fear him...
... For once.
His smile blossomed as they neared one another even more, his brilliant, straight white teeth showing. His crystalline orbs shone as he kept his gaze on her. His arms outstretched, and she finally dropped her tentativeness and uncertainty. After all this time, he wanted to hold her in a way in which he hadn't done in so long - far too long. The gesture offered the promise of tenderness and love, fierce affection.
She began running toward him, instantly throwing herself into his awaiting arms. His embrace was strong, warm and made her feel so good, so loved.
"I love you," she said with contentment as she snuggled against him.
He gave no verbal response to her sweet words.
She pulled back and gazed up into his eyes, a bit of her uncertainty creeping back. And her eyes widened in terror at the look of him. No longer was there any hint of warmth or lovingness in those blue eyes. Now, those orbs were hard, glittering with what seemed to be hatred. His handsome face was now contorted with rage, and she tried to break free.
She couldn't do it... His loose grasp had suddenly tightened to a painful degree.
She shook in his grasp, his strong forearms like steel as he held her firmly in place. But the worst part of all was when, a moment later, he had her in a chokehold.
"How dare you betray me!" he screamed into her ear.
She winced, but that was short-lived as she struggled against him. He was cutting off her air supply, his meaty forearm like a vise against her windpipe. She couldn't breathe!
She beat at his arm feebly, her legs kicking, but to no avail. She couldn't free herself, couldn't kick him for some reason, couldn't utter a sound, and she was blacking out... Or worse.
She never should have trusted him. She should have known better and run the other way. But no, she'd been foolish... And because of her stupidity, she was going to pay for it with her very life.
Adam tried to gently shake her awake, flinching as she actually kicked him a couple of times. She was in the throes of a horrible dream, and he didn't have to think about who was in it.
"Wake up, Amy! Wake up!" he called to her, gently slapping her cheek.
As the frantic redhead's eyes finally fluttered open, she looked around wildly, her breathing fast. For a moment, the blond man worried she was going to hyperventilate.
"A-Adam?"
"You had a nightmare," the Canadian explained. "Everything is okay. I promise you. You're safe."
Amy sat up on the disheveled couch, her hand pressed to her chest as she tried to calm down. He was right... She was safe. They were in the hotel room they'd gotten the night before, and she was still on that sofa after she'd insisted he take the bed. Her blanket was strewn on the floor, and Adam retrieved it for her, covering her with it from the waist down. She'd probably kicked it off during her bad dream.
"Are you going to be all right for the rest of the night?" The blond man pressed a hand to her face, concern shining in his sleepy green eyes. He'd turned on the hallway light en route to going to her, so they could see each other, but not too much. His face was dominated largely by shadows.
Amy started to nod, swallowing back the lump that had formed in her throat. She couldn't find her voice as she pulled the blanket up to her neck. Cold... She was suddenly feeling quite cold.
"Okay," adam said softly, "if you're truly fine, I'm gonna head back to bed." He started to rise from his knelt position, but she reached out and grabbed for his hand.
"What's the matter?"
She stared up at him balefully, then lowered her head, ashamed.
"W-Would you mind if-" She shook her head, relieved that it was dark and he couldn't see how deeply she blushed at the thought she'd just had. "Um... Nevermind."
The blond man didn't go anywhere.
"No... What?" He was staring down at her with anticipation.
The redhead felt more nervous and embarrassed than ever.
"Would it be okay if I slept with you the rest of the night?" she asked. She gazed up at him for a beat, lowering her head again shortly after. Despite the darkness, she could barely look at him.
Adam hesitated for a second. But he knew how jittery she was feeling, and he sensed she probably wouldn't get back to sleep if she stayed out here by herself.
"Sure. Of course it would be okay," he finally answered.
Then, he gently helped her up from the couch and led her to the bed. It was all he could think of moments
later as they laid there together. He could feel the heat radiating off her body, hear her soft breathing. He
closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.