“Right, because you’re some sort of superhero?”
Suddenly, he rolled over to face her. She shied back, then took a deep breath to steady herself.
“You still fear me.”
“It’s not you . . . it’s . . . just a learned response, you know?”
“I understand. I’m being impatient.”
Be brave.
She took a deep breath before sliding over towards him. He stiffened, but didn’t say anything.
Please, don’t let him reject me.
She wasn’t sure what she would do if he pushed her away. She needed this. And she thought he needed it even more. Placing her arm over him, she laid her face against his bicep. He was so warm. He started to chase away the chill she always seemed to feel.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Hugging you.”
“Why?”
“Because you need it.”
“I need a hug?” he asked, sounding surprised.
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know.”
“Do you need one as well?” he asked.
Did she? Yes.
“Yes,” she whispered. It was easier to be more vulnerable in the dark. But it would make it twice as hard to be strong when it was light.
Worry about that later.
He started to shift, raising his arm up, and she snuggled in against his chest, resting her face on his chest now. He placed his arm around her.
“This is all right?”
“Yes.”
It was better than all right. It was almost perfect.
And wasn’t that terrifying?
17
Something was wrong with Zander.
And she had no idea what to do.
He’d retreated into himself, and he wasn’t letting anyone in. Nearly all of his team had turned up at least once over the past three days to talk to him, and he had barely even acknowledged them. He refused to leave her room, sleeping in her bed each night. It was only once they were in bed together that he would reach out and touch her, drawing her against his chest to hold her while they slept.