"Stand."
He tested the weight. It was an immediate improvement.
"Thank you."
Our eyes met. His pulse was visible at his throat. Pupils dilated. Both of us restraining ourselves.
"If you're hurt, you're vulnerable," I said. "Take care of yourself."
"I will."
I stood and created distance. "Get back to rehearsal."
When he turned, the limp was gone.
My hands were still warm from his skin.
"Very thorough."
Taemin stood nearby, amused.
"He was hurt. Tactical vulnerability."
"Mm-hmm. Very tactical. The way you were looking at him, extremely tactical."
"Taemin—"
"I'm not judging. Someone should look at him like he matters instead of like equipment." He tilted his head. "But I'm watching. If you hurt him, I'll make your life extremely difficult."
"Noted."
"Good." He started away and paused. "Also? He looks at you the same way."
He left.
I stood alone, watching Rune move with renewed stability.
My hands remembered his warmth. The tremor. How his breath changed.
Someone who knew how to exploit gaps was watching us.
I had to figure out who before they used my attraction against both of us.
Chapter four
Rune - Vancouver - May 6
The second San Francisco show had gone smoothly. Too smoothly, perhaps. Nine thousand people, flawless execution, and no incidents. Griffin stayed in my room again that night, same arrangement, separate beds. He lay awake longer than necessary.
The next morning, we'd packed for Vancouver.
Now I stood at SFO passport control, and my body remembered the danger before my mind could rationalize it away.
My hands didn't shake. My expression remained neutral. I'd crossed borders hundreds of times—Seoul to Tokyo, Singapore to Bangkok, every major airport in Asia and half the ones in North America. Passport control was procedural. Mechanical.
This time my pulse kicked hard enough that I felt it in my throat. The agent scanned the document. Looked at the photo. Looked at my face.
Behind me, Griffin stood three feet back—close enough to intervene if necessary, far enough not to crowd. His constant presence helped me anchor myself.
