Heart of a Hunter

17: Holding Close

                                           Sam's POV:

Blair's head rested against my chest, her breathing soft and even, but I could feel the tension still lingering between us. My arms tightened around her, holding her close like I could shield her from everything that was crashing down on us. The letter, the man's cryptic warnings, the fear in her eyes—it was all swirling around us, but none of it mattered when I had her here, in my arms.

I pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, inhaling the familiar scent of her hair. There was something grounding in that moment, in the way she fit so perfectly against me. I didn't want to think about what was coming, didn't want to worry about the danger we might be walking into. Right now, all I cared about was Blair.

She shifted slightly, her fingers brushing against my chest as she pulled back just enough to look up at me. Her green eyes, flecked with gold, searched mine, and I could see the fear she was trying so hard to hide. But I could also see something else—something deeper, something that had been growing between us since the moment we met.

"Sam," she whispered, her voice fragile but certain, like she wasn't sure if she should say what was on her mind but couldn't hold it back any longer.

"Yeah?" I said softly, my hand coming up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. I could feel her trembling slightly, but I wasn't sure if it was from fear or something else. Something more.

She hesitated for a moment, her lips parting as if she was struggling to find the right words. "I... I don't know how to say this," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I held my breath, waiting, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched her. Whatever she was about to say, I knew it was going to change everything between us.

Finally, Blair looked up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I love you, Sam," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "I don't know how or when it happened, but I love you."

The words hit me like a tidal wave, washing over me in a way I hadn't expected. My heart stopped for a second, and then everything inside me shifted, like the pieces I didn't even know were missing had finally fallen into place.

I didn't hesitate. I leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft, tender kiss, pouring everything I felt into it. Blair's hands tightened in my shirt, pulling me closer, and I could feel the desperation in the way she kissed me back—the way she was holding on like I was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

When we pulled away, her forehead rested against mine, her breath coming in soft, shaky gasps. I could see the vulnerability in her eyes, the fear that I might not feel the same way.

But I did.

"I love you too," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Blair."

Her breath hitched, and I saw the relief flood through her, like she'd been holding her breath for far too long. Her lips trembled as a small, tearful smile crept across her face, and in that moment, I knew I'd do anything to protect her, to keep her safe. Not because I had to, but because I couldn't imagine a world without her.

Blair pressed herself closer, her hands sliding up to cup my face as she kissed me again, slower this time, deeper, like we had all the time in the world. Her warmth, her softness, the way she melted into me—it was everything I hadn't realized I needed.

When we finally pulled apart, her eyes were still locked on mine, filled with a mixture of love, fear, and hope. "I'm so scared, Sam," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Everything feels like it's falling apart, and I don't know what's going to happen. But when I'm with you... it's the only time I feel like I'm okay."

I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing gently across her cheeks as I leaned in, my lips barely brushing hers. "You're not alone in this," I said softly, my voice thick with the weight of everything we'd been through. "I'm not going anywhere, Blair. We'll figure it out together. Whatever happens, I'm with you."

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and I could feel her relaxing slightly, like she was finally starting to believe me. But the truth was, I wasn't just saying it for her. I needed her just as much as she needed me. Maybe even more.

Blair rested her head against my chest again, her arms wrapped around me as if she was afraid to let go. "I've never loved anyone like this before," she whispered. "It's terrifying, but it feels... right."

I kissed the top of her head, my heart swelling with an emotion I hadn't let myself feel in so long. "Me either," I admitted quietly. "But I don't want to lose this. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," she whispered back, her voice barely audible against my chest. "I'm not going anywhere."

We stayed like that for what felt like hours, wrapped in each other, letting the rest of the world fade away. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't worried about what was coming next. I wasn't thinking about the danger, or the unknown, or the endless fights we'd face.

All I could think about was her—Blair—and how she had somehow become the most important thing in my life.

And as we lay there together, our bodies tangled in the quiet intimacy of the moment, I knew one thing for certain: I loved her. Completely. Fully. In a way that made everything else seem insignificant.

And no matter what happened next, I wasn't going to let her go.

Not now. Not ever.