Violet
His head lowered to rest against my shoulder, his breath warm against my neck through the thin fabric of the shawl.
I went rigid, the ice cream bowl in my hands forgotten. My heart hammered so loudly I was certain he could hear it.
"Relax," he murmured, his voice carrying that low rumble that vibrated through his chest into my back. "I just want to hold you for a while."
I forced myself to take a breath, to let some of the tension drain from my shoulders. His arms remained loose around my waist, present but not confining me.
I slowly brought a spoonful of ice cream to my mouth, trying to focus on the sweet, cold taste rather than the solid warmth pressed against my entire back.
We sat in silence for several long moments, the sounds of the park drifting around us—distant laughter, the splash of fountains, the rustle of leaves overhead.
He took his head off my shoulder and seemed to lean back, likely leaning his head back against the tree trunk.
