Anna rolled over, taking in the sleeping, unpolished man at her side. Thick lashes grazed his cheekbones. He was warm and solid, one arm slung over her in gentle possession.

I feel so safe.

She had never relied on anyone in her life before. Independence had served her well and built her a brilliant scientific career. But lying here, the air heavy with sex, her heart revelled in the feelings created by opening herself up to Garrick.

Even though the world has gone to shit, this feels right.

She ran her hand across his cheek, enjoying the roughness of his stubble prickling her fingertips. He was everything she had avoided in men. Solid, dirty, reticent, and physical. Intellectually, her mind rebelled, but her body did not. He turned her on like no one ever had, like a fuse-wire had been lit straight to her libido. But it was more than that. She just wanted to be near him, wanted to know all about him and what made him tick.

When she had ended previous flings, there had always been a sense of relief, a gladness to be on her own again. She took in the rugged face in front of her, his breath warm on the back of her hand. She didn’t want to be anywhere else than here and she didn’t want it to end. Even though she wanted to make herself more comfortable, she remained still, not wanting to break the spell.

He stirred slightly.

Time ticks on, Anna.

Those piercing eyes opened, and her stomach fluttered. His smile was a little crooked.

“Hey, beautiful.” He cupped his fingers under her jaw and tilted her chin for a kiss. The taste of him flooded her senses as his tongue skilfully played with hers. His hand ran up her flank, his fingers trailing and tantalising, triggering a wave of heat to swell between her legs. Again? How did he do that to her? His fingers continued to explore, pushing through the still damp hair at the base of her neck, sending pleasurable electricity down her spine and limbs.

She broke away from his kiss, breathless.

“I didn’t expect this.”

He smiled, his eyes creasing in amusement. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it.” He reached for her and kissed her, biting her top lip gently. “Still, I’m not sure what you expect when you're standing in the shower all lathered and sexy as hell.”

He nipped her shoulder, grinning up at her through those dangerous lashes that completely undid her.

Her cheeks heated and she grinned.

“I’m not normally so brazen.”

“I like it.” A shadow passed over his face, and he frowned.

He rolled onto his back beside her, staring up at the ceiling. “Things are different now, aren’t they? None of us are what we were before.”

Shafts of moonlight crept in through chinks in the blinds, illuminating the room in stripes of pearly grey.

She ran her hand across his chest through the patterns of silvery light, not wanting to break the connection, not wanting him to move away from her.

“I’m sorry.” She waited for him to tell her what he carried so heavily.

“Don’t be. You have nothing to apologise for.” He turned and smiled at her, trying to comfort her.

She laced her fingers through his. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

“I let my brother down. End of story.”

“Okay.” Give him time, Anna.

She squeezed his hand and waited for him to continue.

“Tom, my brother, encouraged me to join the SAS. I was a mess, in with the wrong crowd. I’d done two years for a bank robbery.” He snorted softly. “Didn’t even make it into the bank. I was the driver.

“Tom picked me up after I got out of prison. Got me cleaned up; didn’t let me slide back into self-destruction. He was a bastard like that. I joined the army. Kept pushing. Tom was already in Special Services. He encouraged me to apply, and I was accepted. We were in the same squad for five years. Afghanistan, Belize, wherever. Until the invasion.” His voice dropped, lost in thought.

He twisted to face her, tracing his calloused thumb along the line of her jaw. She bent her head toward his fingers, wanting wanting him to never stop touching her.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. I’d have been off my face, lying in a gutter somewhere when the Chittrix landed. No loss to anyone. I still think that a lot of the time. It should have been me that died that day. Tom was the better man.” He stopped, an uncomfortable expression flitting across his battle-hardened features. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on like that.”

“Shush.” Her hand smoothed his forehead. There were knots of tension under her fingertips. “It’s not your fault. He died like millions of others because of the Chittrix.”

“I should have protected him. He was my brother.”

She leaned over and silenced him with a kiss. God, he was addictive. She wanted more of him.

“We all could have done a lot of things differently. Not just when the Chittrix arrived. We’ve all made choices that didn’t work out so well. But they were all made in the best of faith at the time. That’s what matters. Or at least it’s what I think matters.” Anna paused, taking in his beautifully imperfect face.

Good can come out of bad situations.

“You’re a good man, Garrick. Your brother died, but how many others have you helped? You’re carrying a tragedy that was out of your control. Out of all of our control.”

She gestured at the empty room with raised eyebrows. “Look at how well the human race is coping with this generally.” She butted her forehead to his. His breath tickled her cheek.

“Maybe you should consider letting it go.” She hesitated. “There’s a lesson there for all of us.” What would it be like to trust him? To rely on him?

“Are you always this insightful?”

“Only with annoying men who save my life.” She punched him playfully in the chest, then spread her fingers across the broad expanse of his muscles. His heart was strong and steady under her hand. The regular rhythm soothed her. She winked at him, took his hand, and pressed it firmly to her breast. His touch was hot, and her nipple puckered under his caress.

“Dr. Anna Ward, you’re a bad influence,” he muttered, his voice hoarse with emotion.