“It’s—it’s okay.”
“I can help you,” he said with a clenched jaw, like he wanted to stop himself but couldn’t. “But only if you’re sure my method is something you’re comfortable with.”
“It’s not sexual…”
“No,” he said, as if offended, which in turn mademefeel offended.
I centered myself with a shaky breath. He scrambled my brain more than Jayne.
“And it will eliminate all physical symptoms of panic so I can speak freely?”
Wes sighed. “Yep.”
Realization struck—Jayne’s wink, Archer’s interest in what Wes had said in the red room, Wes’s assuredness he could cure me of my greatest fear.
“Oh my God.” I stood, woozy as I wobbled slightly.
Wes rose to his feet and quickly steadied me, our faces mere inches apart. His hand was warm, firm, and calloused, and he smelled like woodsy cologne and leather. Our chests rose and fell. Neither of us moved any closer.
“You want to hypnotize me.”
9
NOVA
Wes was the first to break contact. He swallowed and removed his touch, leaving my skin cold in its absence.
“I won’t, not unless you’re certain it’s what you want,” he repeated. “And apleasewouldn’t hurt.”
I snickered. “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I said, echoing his words from before.
He straightened, his breathing still elevated as one of his hands fisted at his side.
Was Wesflustered? The sight of it—and the knowledge I had something to do with the reaction—was so unexpected, it was intoxicating.
He refocused on me with a wry smile. “Yes, Nova, I would.” He inhaled deeply, his shoulders relaxing. “Manners are a lost art.”
And now, I was imagining Wes doing what he said he would never do again—telling me how to speak, how to dress, how to behave.
I blinked the thought away. “I would need to trust you first. Or, at least, trust you more than I do now.”
“Reasonable.”
“Which, unfortunately, means I will need to get to know you better.”
Wes laughed softly. “That’s a really tough spot to be in. I’m the worst.”
“That’s what I suspected, but I need to be sure.”
Maybe it was the aftereffects of the anxiety spike, but a smile formed against my will.
It fell when I remembered where we were and what we were expected to do.
“I guess we should get back in there,” I said.
“Do youwantto go back in there?”
“No,” I admitted. “But the night has only just started, and I need to?—”
