Beside me, Tenor flinched.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“I shouldn’t have touched you.” He closed his eyes and wouldn’t look at me, but at least he’d stopped trying to get away from me. I was thankful for that. In his arms, I felt safe and protected.

“Why?” I asked him. “Because Benjamin turned out to be an ass? That’s not your fault.”

His eyes were open and he was looking at me. That was better than him not looking at me, but something was still off. “I know it’s not my fault, but you’ve had an emotional night and I shouldn’t do anything to add to that.”

It sounded very practical, but practical wasn’t what I needed or wanted at the moment. “Maybe you’re not adding to it,” I said and shifted the tiniest bit toward him. If he’d noticed, he didn’t say anything or try to scoot away. “Maybe you’re what I need to help me get over my emotional night.” My own admission shocked the hell out of me.

I’d heard of the expression ‘deer in the headlights’ but until that moment, I’d never actually seen it on a person. Tenor looked exactly like that. It was almost funny. Was he scared of me?

But no, I realized. He’d kept my date from assaulting me and in thanks I acted as if I was going to jump his bones. Tenor was doing everything he could to be a perfect gentleman and I wasn’t letting him fulfill the role.

The thing was, he was right. It had been a highly emotional night. I wasn’t in the best place or frame of mind to be doing anything. But in that moment, sitting beside him, all that paled in comparison to the fact that I wanted him. I didn’t want to want him, but my libido didn’t seem to care.

And I was pretty certain he wanted me as well.

The realization was shocking and unexpected. At least to me. And the strange thing was, I didn’t want to fight it.

But if we acted on those feelings tonight, we’d both regret it. Okay, I wouldn’t regret it, but he would and I didn’t want guilt of any kind to taint anything about us.

Then there was the fact that he was my boss. Fuck. Funny how I kept forgetting that at times. Plus, I didn’t like him.

Right. I didn’t believe it anymore either.

Either way I looked at it, if anything happened tonight, Tenor would feel guilty on both of those accounts. So my wants and needs would have to wait for another day when only the fact that he was my boss would be an issue. Tonight, however….

I tried to yawn and discovered it wasn’t much of a stretch for me to let out a big one. Beside me, Tenor let out a deep breath, obviously overjoyed at my fatigue.

“Sleepy?” he asked.

I nodded. “But if you don’t mind, can I ask a favor?”

“Of course,” he replied, but he hesitated before saying it and he looked very tired himself. Hadn’t he said before I left to see Benjamin that he was going to bed? And yet, here he was, still up and making sure I was okay after running a would-be attacker from my room.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “You should be sleeping and because of me, you’re still up.”

“Don’t even think about apologizing,” he said and even though he still looked tired, there was a strength in his expression and his tone left no room for arguing. “I’m not sorry at all. I’m glad I’m awake because I can’t think about what would have happened if I wasn’t.”

I couldn’t look at him. It wasn’t fair to him no matter what he said.

“Mia.” He gently took my chin, turning it gently until I faced him. “I mean it. Don’t even think about feeling guilty. Okay?”

His fingers were softer than I’d imagined they’d be. It was a bit odd in a way. There was no part of him that was soft. Perhaps, then, it was only his touch that was soft? I knew from watching him kick Benjamin out how hard he could be otherwise.

He smiled at me and I couldn’t stop myself, I smiled back. “Okay.” The words slipped from my lips without me even thinking about them. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure what I was agreeing to.

Right. No guilt.

Oh well, it wouldn’t be my first lie. Probably not my last either.

“Now,” he said. “What was the favor you wanted to ask me?”

As much as I’d just admitted to myself that I had lied and would do it again, there was no way I could do with him watching me the way he was. “Would you mind horribly much if I asked you to stay with me tonight?” I regretted it as soon as I spoke the question and saw the trepidation in his eyes, but whatever negative response I’d anticipated, never materialized.

His voice was calmer than I’d expected when he asked, “Here in your room? Or here in your bed?”

My bed. Though I only wanted his comfort, I was unable to keep more intimate images out of my mind. Images I thought would scare me after the last few hours, but didn’t. “It really doesn’t matter. It’s only, I don’t want to be alone.”

“Do you think he’ll come back?”

Shit. That thought hadn’t entered my mind, but with his words, I could imagine it happening. He wouldn’t, would he? I didn’t think so, but what if I was wrong? What if he did? Suddenly, I was freezing. Or I guessed that was why I felt so cold.

“Fuck,” Tenor said, turning toward me and putting his arms around me. He pulled me close, all the while whispering, “He’s not coming anywhere near you. Not tonight. Not ever. He’ll have to get through me first.”

And once more, I was safe.

He ended up staying in my room all night. For about an hour we sat on the couch, but it eventually grew uncomfortable. Tenor stood and took my hand, ensuring I’d follow as he walked to his room to gather a few things before heading back to mine.

When we were once again locked safely inside, he shuffled me off into the bathroom to change into my pjs. I felt the urge to take a shower, even though I’d taken one before meeting Benjamin. Symbolically washing him away, I supposed. Freshly clean and comfortable in my soft cotton sleep shorts and tee, I crawled into bed. I was asleep before Tenor made it out of the bathroom.

I woke up sometime in the middle of the night to find his arms around me while he slept on top of the covers. I smiled and snuggled closer, wondering how in the world I ever thought he was an asshole.

Maybe it was that revelation in the early morning hours that made it so hard to believe I heard him correctly at breakfast.

“I have to be honest, Mia. As much as I’m attracted to you, you and I can never happen.”