The impact caves part of me in. I need to get out of here, give her some space.
Get my shit right.
"I’ve got a deployment tonight," I tell her, standing up. "You’ll stay here with the other women and some security team members."
The wall that slams down between us is made of ice.
Her reply is tight, instant. As if it’s practiced. "Of course. It will be good to have some company."
The last thing I want to think about is her here alone. I don’t care if the entire Agile Team is standing guard. It’s not me.
"We have food here for you."
When I motion to the desk she’s already moving from the bed. "I didn’t eat much this morning."
Another fist to my own stomach. "I should have fed you before you slept."
"Oh, no. I needed that much more." She pauses, reconsiders, and I hate that she feels like she has to hold back. "I haven’t rested well in a long time."
"Ever?"
She reaches for a cookie on the tray Allison prepared.
"Once upon a time, maybe."
I decide then and there she’ll have whatever it takes so she can sleep without fear from now on.
My intention was to leave, give her some space, but when she folds into the desk chair, I pull the other chair closer and grab a few cookies off the tray for myself.
We eat in silence.
She grazes, picking some pieces of cheese and when she reaches for an orange, I pick it up first. "Here, let me."
As Jade watches me peel it, that tension simmers between us again.
I want to feed her. Physically.
Jesus.
Instead, I place the orange slices in front of her one by one.
She grins at me, apparently amused by my discomfort. "Thank you. I can officially say that no one has ever done that for me."
"Well... I guess you can say, I’m original."
Her gaze slides over me. "That, without a doubt, is the truest statement that’s ever been spoken."
This fans a fire that’s been sitting at the base of my throat. "You think so?"
"I know so." She pushes an orange slice toward me. "I mean who else would turn into the knight in shining armor in the middle of a donut shop."
I glance at the closed door. "Any one of our team would."
"That’s nice..." She smiles, then turns serious. "But I don’t think they would have watched over me while I slept."
"You’d be wrong."
She toes my calf with her bare foot. "Ryker..."
