Adonis reached out. His large hand, warm and calloused in a perfect mimicry of human flesh, cupped her cheek.
What a foolish thing to say, that's what Adonis thought as he smiled at her.
His thumb brushed away a stray tear that had threatened to spill from the corner of her eye.
"You are not weak and foolish," Adonis stated, his voice a low, that settled deep into her chest. "I believe that whatever you wish to do, you can succeed. I will be here supporting you."
Nikki's breath hitched. The absolute, unshakeable certainty in his glowing blue eyes was intoxicating in a entirely different way. He spoke it as a calculated, undeniable fact.
A drowsy, beautiful smile spread across Nikki's face. The heavy weight of the alcohol and the emotional exhaustion of the Gala finally pulled her under. Her eyelids fluttered until they closed completely. Within seconds, her breathing evened out into the soft, deep rhythm of sleep.
