"I think we've hugged long enough now, Cindy," I said gently, though I made no move to actually pull away.
She remained exactly where she was, her arms wrapped securely around my waist and showing no intention of releasing me anytime soon.
"Just a bit more," she said, resting her head more comfortably against my chest as if settling in for an extended stay.
"I already told you I won't leave you," I said with a soft laugh, unable to keep the amusement from my voice. "You don't need to physically restrain me to make sure I don't vanish."
"Even though you say that..." She trailed off, the unspoken concern hanging between us.
I knew exactly what worry she was leaving unvoiced. "About my plan to go back to Russia and retrieve Elena, it's not happening anytime soon," I clarified, feeling her body shift slightly as she raised her gaze toward my face. "That's a long-term objective, not an immediate action. We've got plenty of time before that becomes relevant."
