She rubbed her head against his abdomen like an affectionate kitten, her soft hair brushing against the hard planes of his body.
Leo froze. His breath caught, sharp and uneven, as he felt the warmth of her cheek press against his shirt, right over the lines of muscle that had hardened from years of discipline and training. His body tensed immediately, his self-control snapping taut like a stretched wire. He had endured wounds, fights, betrayal but nothing prepared him for the way this little girl's innocent gesture nearly unraveled him.
His hand hovered uncertainly over her head for a moment, then slowly came down, resting there. His fingers brushed lightly through her hair as he murmured in a voice that came out lower than he intended, almost husky, "Bella…"
