Just then, the door behind me swung open, and a big, strong hand yanked me inside...
Before I could even scream, my mouth was covered, and my body, now beyond my control, was dragged into the room. The door slammed shut and locked, all in the blink of an eye. I had no time to react, no time to understand what was happening.
I heard the door to the adjacent room being pulled open, and my heart pounded in my chest.
"Who's there?... Who's out there?"
The voice belonged to Jerome. Who was he shouting at? Had he noticed us?
I was so terrified that I barely dared to breathe. My heart ached from the rapid pounding, and my body felt like jelly.
The large hand held me up, pulling me into a broad, comforting embrace. The hand that had covered my mouth moved to cradle my head, pressing it against a masculine chest. My face was buried into his shirt, and the scent of him filled my nostrils, making my head spin.
But I ignored all these sensations, focusing on the sounds outside.
My head was held tight, immobilized, and I didn't dare to move for fear of being discovered.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I heard the doorknob behind me being twisted. "Who's in there? Open up!"
Jerome's voice was sharp and intimidating. I shivered instinctively, closing my eyes and burying my face deeper into the stranger's chest.
I couldn't even begin to imagine what would happen if the door was opened.
Suddenly, thunder cracked the sky. The deafening sound nearly made me shriek. Two knocks outside the room followed, and the doorknob rattled again.
I felt like the world was about to end, my hands clutching the man's shirt in desperation.
After a moment of silence, the footsteps moved away from the door and I crumbled, leaning against the door to catch my breath. I could feel him relax as well.
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