When he lifted his hand, extending it for her to hold, Claire had the urge to flinch away... yet, amidst the maelstrom of self-hatred was an undeniable yearning in her heart. Despite her own revulsion, she craved the comfort only Jamie could provide. The magnetic pull of his embrace beckoned her and Claire allowed herself to be drawn into Jamie’s arms, hoping to find a fleeting refuge where she could momentarily forget the horrors that haunted her.