He’s staring at me like he wants to fuck me right here on the floor. And oh, my god, I want him to. His kiss was like touching an electric fence; tingles everywhere and the overwhelming sensation of not being able to breathe.

But I’m not ready for that. And I need to talk him down before he does something we both regret – or something we can’t come back from.

Gulping back the bit of fear I feel sparking through my chest, I remind him that we were going to have dinner. “Time to talk?”

And it’s like a light switch has been hit. He’s all calm and controlled as he turns away. Sentinel walks up to him and he pets my dog on the head like he’s greeting an old friend. “How are you, boy?” he asks, and Sentinel’s tail swishes back and forth.

I watch as he heads into the kitchen. “How can I help?” I ask, following him in.

“I’ve got this,” he says, his smile taking the sting out of the words. I lean on the counter and he glances at me, his eyes narrowing. And I know he’s thinking about deliciously wicked things.

“So I asked if Sentinel could sleep in my room with me?” I ask, hoping to get the conversation back on track.

Kyle begins to get some food together. He places a pan on his induction stovetop and it begins to heat as he grabs fish from the fridge.

“I mean, is it an issue?” I ask, wondering why it’s such a big deal if he sleeps here or in the house with Kyle.

And as I watch Kyle set out some spinach and check the pan, I try to figure him out. The sizzle of fish touching a hot pan startles me, but Kyle’s words seem to cancel out the beginnings of the flashback. “It is an issue, kind of.” He seems to be speaking slowly, as if considering his words while not wanting me to feel like he’s ignoring me or blowing me off.

How the hell did he do that? I assumed the panic attacks would only get worse, but he somehow managed to head that one off before it began. Like a sneeze, I felt it tickling my mind, but his voice managed to snap me out of it again.

I want to explore this, to know why, to research, but now doesn’t feel like the time to think about it. “How so?” I ask, feeling dazed.

“Well, if he’s in your room,” Kyle says, expertly seasoning the fish and turning it. “He might see me as a threat to you and try to protect you.”

I stare at his back, startled. I would never have thought about something like that, but it makes total sense. “Can’t argue that,” I say, then realize he’s holding something back. “What?” I ask, and he glances at me over his shoulder.

He’s quick to turn back to food and I watch him as he tosses the spinach in the pan and slides the fish along the edge all the way around the pan. I watch, fascinated. Once they’ve made the circle, he grabs stainless steel tongs and plates both fish steaks and divvies up the spinach that didn’t stick to the fish. It smells heavenly in here, and I’m excited to try the food.

I set the table quickly, while prodding him about holding back on me. “What else was it?” I ask as he brings over both plates of food. We take our seats and I take a drink of my water as he places his napkin on his lap.

“You wanted me to come in your room while you’re asleep to check on your dog.” He’s looking at me, fork in mid hover over plate.

I shrug, watching him as I pick up my own fork. “Yeah, so?” I ask, taking a moment to shave a sliver of the perfectly cooked, flaking fish with my fork. My gaze returns to him as I pop the bite in my mouth. It practically melts on my tongue and is so mild and wonderful it’s easily the best fish I’ve ever had. “It’s not like I sleep naked,” I joke.

But Kyle arches an eyebrow at me and I wonder how he knows. “Okay, I do sleep naked, but it’s not like that,” I say, feeling my cheeks burn. “And how did you know?” I ask, looking up at him quickly form my plate.

“I didn’t,” He says, taking a second to pop a bite of fish in his mouth before giving me a startlingly white flash of a smile. He’s so devilish I’m amused.

“Tricky, tricky,” I mutter. It is odd that the worry hadn’t ever crossed my mind. “I don’t know,” I muse aloud as I eat. “I mean, you’re not a threat. If you were going to rape me, you’d have done it already. I haven’t even locked the door since I’ve been here.”

“Don’t ever leave that door unlocked,” He says, and I look up at him in surprise. He’s watching me, that intense blue stare surprising.

“Why?” I ask, wondering why it’s such a big deal. But it seems like it’s a big deal to Kyle, so it’s a big deal to me.

“Because I worry about you,” he says and my heart melts.

Damn it, why does he have to be so incredibly sexy? And such a good kisser… I glance at his lips, loving the shape of them. They’re a bit thin, slightly cruel, but so very sexy. And his kiss… he’d tasted like wicked freedom, like crossed lines and danger. Everything about it had been amazing.

I realize he’s studying me with as much intensity as I’m watching him. “Are you thinking about kissing me again?” I ask, weakly teasing even as it feels like my breath is impossible to catch. My heart is hammering my chest and I feel lightheaded as he shakes his head.

“I was thinking about so much more than kissing you,” he says, his voice so low it’s more like a growl.