I exhaled a tired breath. “I don’t know what to think.”
“I know. I don’t either, but we’ll figure this out and end it. I won’t allow these threats to continue. For now, though…” He peered down at me, stroking my arm under water.
“For now, I have to stay here?”
He nodded once. “That would be for the best. If you truly think being at your apartment is your only choice, then I’ll stay there with you. But this building is ten times safer, maybe more. I’ll be able to breathe if you’re here.”
“I’ll stay here.” I kissed his throat. “I wouldn’t want you not to be able to breathe.”
His exhale was so heavy, I felt the weight of it on my shoulders. I was his relief. Staying inside his lines unburdened him. In this instance, I would do it because it was the smart choice, even though I had bucked against it in the beginning.
“I picked up a bag of clothing for you and your toiletries,” he murmured.
My heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you. Is it a big bag?”
He huffed a laugh. “It’s enormous. I packed enough for you to stay through two seasons. That’s not over the top, is it?”
“For you? No, not at all.”
He pulled me closer, touching me everywhere, as if I’d disappear if he stopped, and for the first time since returning to my violated apartment, I settled.
This would be okay.
Ronan would settle too.
We’d figure out who the nutjob stalker was and everything would be normal again.
If I kept telling myself that, there was a chance I’d actually believe it.