"I did panic. On the inside. I just didn't have time to show it."
His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing along my cheekbone. "You're safe now. I promise."
I leaned into his touch, my eyes closing. "Thank you. For following me. For saving my life. For—" My voice cracked. "For everything."
"Julia." He said my name like it meant something. LikeImeant something.
I opened my eyes to find him watching me with an intensity that stole my breath.
"I need to shower," I whispered. "Get this sauce out of my hair. Get the—"Get the fear off my skin. Get the memory of those bullets out of my head.
"Okay." He stepped back, giving me space. "I'll wait in the living room. Make sure—"
"Stay."
The word came out before I could stop it.
His eyes widened slightly. "Stay?"
"Please." I wasn't thinking clearly. Wasn't thinking at all. I just knew I didn't want to be alone. Didn't want him to leave. "I don't—I can't—"
Understanding flickered across his face. "You don't want to be alone right now."
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
"Okay." His voice was gentle. "I'll stay. I can wait out here, or—"
"Join me."
Holy hell, did I just say that?
The air between us shifted. Charged.
"Julia." My name was a warning. Or a question. Or maybe a prayer. "Are you sure? Because if I—if we—"
"I almost died tonight." The words tumbled out. "Someone shot at me. Tried to run me off the road. And all I can think about is that I don't want to waste any more time being afraid. Being alone. Being—"
He kissed me.
Not gentle. Not tentative.
Hungry. Desperate. Like he'd been holding back for too long and couldn't anymore.
I kissed him back with everything I had, all the fear and adrenaline and want channeling into this moment, this man, this impossible connection.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, he pressed his forehead to mine.
"You're sure?" he whispered.
"I'm sure."
I stepped back, suddenly shy despite what I'd just asked for. "I'm—I'm going to start the water."
"Okay."
I stepped into the bathroom, closed the door, and turned on the shower. Steam began to fill the small space. My hands shook as I started to undress.
A few minutes later, three sharp knocks sounded on the bathroom door.
