For a fleeting moment, Leandre was certain that he had drifted into a reverie, for there was no way that Clary could be holding him so tightly. But as he basked in the warmth of her embrace and felt the rhythm of her heartbeat, he knew beyond a doubt that this was no illusion. It was tangible, it was real. He is hugging his beloved. And with each surge of adrenaline that surged through his veins, he was consumed by an all-encompassing euphoria that he had never experienced before.
He was longing to hug her in his arms with the same strength she hugged him, but the nagging thought of his strength potentially crushing her dainty physique held him back. Leandre paused, unsure for a fleeting moment before tentatively raising his hands to encircle her lithe frame. He held her close, cautiously at first, as though afraid that any sudden movement might shatter the moment into a million pieces.