She did not know that he had already made up his mind. This time, he had no intention of letting her escape.
He reached out and seized her wrist, pushing her back onto the bed in one smooth motion.
Before she could react, his body pressed down, trapping her beneath him. The sudden weight made her gasp, and the injured spot on her back, where burning debris had struck her earlier, flared with searing pain.
Her brows knitted together as cold sweat broke out along her skin.
Victor noticed it at once.
The harshness in his expression softened, and he shifted his posture, rolling slightly to the side and pulling her into his arms instead. She ended up half-lying against his chest, her body cradled by one of his arms, his back resting against the pillow. Her breathing was uneven, her heart still racing.
"From now on," he said quietly, his voice low and firm, "stay away from him."
She did not respond.
The silence instantly darkened his expression.
