The drive from Papa P's house to Levi's was short, but I didn't really pay attention to the scenery in between. Bouts of panic kept overwhelming me, leaving me breathless—unless I was looking at Levi, or touching some part of him. He'd wrapped my hand in his unless he needed it for a turn, and then he returned it immediately to my grip.

"We're here," he said, and I finally looked out my window.

I hadn't thought about what kind of home Levi would live in, but his home surprised me. It was... beautiful. A one-story, white cottage with gardens bursting with late-summer blooms.

"Did you plant all of these?" I asked as Levi helped me out of his SUV.

"Most of them," Levi admitted with a hint of pride. "She was a real fixer-upper when I bought her. The roses over there had gone a little wild, but with some attention, they really perked up. I've even got a vegetable garden out back, and I swear, everything ripened at the same time. I can show you how to harvest and take care of the plants if you're interested." He said the last hesitantly.

I squeezed his hand. "I think I might like that."

His wide smile told me that was the right answer—I'd do just about anything to make him so visibly happy.

I shuddered. Not... anything. But if something as simple as weeding made him happy? It would make me happy to do it.

The house was just as cute inside as it was out. It really didn't look like it was meant for a single soldier at all—it looked like it was meant for a family. I could already picture making sandwiches for my kid in the kitchen... putting together puzzles on the living room floor...

But I had no idea how long I'd be here. And surely someday Levi would want a family of his own.

"The bedrooms are down here," Levi said, pulling me gently after him. "Bathroom in the center, with my room here on the left, and the spare is on the right. You can sleep here if you want, but..."

I stiffened. Alone? In a strange room? Levi stopped, and spoke a little more softly.

"I'd be honored if you'd sleep in my room, though. I promise, no funny business. I'm sorry if this seems a little strange, but my wolf feels the need to keep you as close as possible."

I leaned against Levi's arm in relief. "Is that why I feel like I need to be so close to you? My wolf?"

Levi looked down at me curiously. "What do you mean? Can you not feel your wolf?"

I looked down, embarrassed, and shrugged. "Maybe? I don't know what it's supposed to feel like. I'm sorry—" My words rushed from my mouth. "This is probably something completely normal and I'm just being weird about it but—"

Levi stopped me with a finger to my lips. "You're not being weird about anything. You've been through some crazy trauma. It's normal to process things a little differently after such an ordeal. We'll figure it out, okay?"

I nodded, still not looking at him, then a big yawn overtook me.

Levi rubbed his hand up and down my arm. "Why don't you lay down on the bed and get a nap?"

I clung harder to his arm. This place was still new to me, and I wasn't ready to be alone. "What are you going to do?"

Levi shrugged. "After a mission, I normally need time to decompress."

"Show me." Once again, commands were jumping from my throat and out of my mouth, bypassing my brain entirely.

"Show you?"

Levi didn't seem offended, just curious, so I forged forward. "Show me how you decompress. Show me what you do when you come home from a mission."

With a smile, Levi led me to the living room and sat me on the couch before going to a tall, single bookcase. He took his time looking over the shelves before choosing a thick paperback. He turned to me. "Do you want anything to read?"

I shook my head. I was content to just watch Levi right now.

Instead of coming to the couch, Levi went to his entertainment center and plugged in his phone, tapping at the screen for a moment before music filled the air. It was quiet... relaxing. And no words. I liked that.

Levi sat at the end of the couch and pulled my head down to his lap. I snuggled against his muscular thigh, enjoying the strength of his scent. He reached over the back of the couch and pulled an afghan over us, tucking it around my face to make sure I wasn't completely covered.

"Is this okay?"

I sighed happily. "It's perfect." I felt as if I could let go of any expectations or worries or plans. I snuggled in closer and Levi opened his book, his arm resting on my shoulder.

I clutched my stomach protectively as two dark, shadowy figures loomed at me, their hands outstretched. They were coming to take my baby. They weren't going to let me keep it. No, I had to fight! I had to protect!

"Shh, shh, shh. Cody, I've got you. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you. I won't let them. I'll protect you. I've got you."

Levi's constant reassurance pulled me from my nightmare. I clung to him, sobbing. He stroked my hair and back, still murmuring soft words until I caught my breath.

"Are you okay now?"

I nodded against his chest.

"You were screaming."

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. "Nightmare."

He didn't ask me to explain but continued to stroke my back. It helped.

We weren't on the couch anymore, I realized, but in the large bed in his room. Had I really slept that hard? I was still in the clothes I had been wearing the day before, but Levi was in a loose, cotton t-shirt and sweatpants.

"I tried to wake you up for dinner, but you were my little Sleeping Beauty."

"I don't know about the beauty part," I grumbled. "Sorry for waking you."

"It's not a problem... Sleeping Beauty." The amusement was evident in his voice, and I poked him in the side, prompting a chuckle. "It's my job to protect you, whether from bad guys or bad dreams. Do you think you can go to sleep again?"

I nodded, half asleep already from his deep, quiet voice and calming touch. We lay down and he pulled my back to his chest.

"Is this okay?" he whispered.

In answer, I pulled his arm around my chest.

The nightmare seemed like a faint memory when I was woken by the sun shining in my face the next morning. I was alone in bed, but Levi's scent was still fresh and strong. Remembering Levi's comment about his wolf needing me close, I snuggled into his side of the bed, paying close attention to my reaction to it. It was like a drug, without the mind-numbing effects. Every muscle relaxed a little more with each inhale.

I didn't sense anything that felt particularly wolf-like, however.

Any further exploration was interrupted by the sudden awareness that I needed to pee, now.

I rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom, pushing the door open, then stopped hard. Levi froze in the middle of brushing his teeth as my eyes slowly dropped from his shocked face to his bare chest and landed on the tight, pink underwear clinging to his ass.

Belatedly, I realized the shower was running. If I'd taken just a few more seconds to wake up, maybe I would have realized that before bursting in on a barely covered Levi. But I was kinda glad I hadn't been thinking. The way the shiny pink material clung to Levi's skin was fascinating. The top edge was lined with lace, and the front expertly cupped his—

I cleared my throat but didn't look away. I'd never seen anything like that, especially on such a large, masculine man.

Levi set his toothbrush in its holder and rinsed his mouth before turning to face me, giving me a frontal view of the delicate fabric. I looked up, suddenly realizing I'd been staring unabashedly. Levi's cheeks were a strong pink, but he crossed his arms in a devil-may-care way.

"I guess you know my secret now."

Of course, this was a secret, I realized. A beautiful, precious secret. Levi's lips quirked up in a smile. He wasn't hiding himself from me but being open—open in a way I couldn't imagine being. Frissons of thrilled delight tickled my spine. I'd never had a secret that was just for fun before—only dangerous secrets. The lack of negativity made it even more beautiful.

"I won't tell," I promised. "This will be my secret to treasure now, too."

My fingers twitched at my sides. What would the fabric feel like under my touch? It highlighted every curve and angle of Levi's body. Levi's smile shifted, going from sweet to cocky in a second, but he didn't move immediately. Finally, he reached for his pants.

"Stop." It was like I was being possessed by someone else, the way these commands jumped out of my mouth with Levi. He obeyed immediately, letting the pants fall back to the ground. I examined his eyes to make sure this was okay. I knew what it was like to obey out of fear, but there was no fear in Levi's eyes, only interest. And why would he be afraid of a little thing like me? If he wanted, he could pick me up, kick me out, and slam the door in my face.

But he didn't do that. He obeyed and waited.

"Stay there." I took a step toward him, and then another. Something rumbled with anticipation deep in my chest. My vision seemed a little sharper, scents a little stronger. I prowled toward Levi, then ran a tentative finger over the satin-clad curve of his hip.

Levi shivered and clenched his fists.

I withdrew my finger. "Is that... too much?"

"Hell, no!" Levi gasped. "That's amazing. You can touch me as much as you want."

I knew this already, somehow, but it was good to hear Levi confirm it. Emboldened, I drew my finger along the soft fabric, trailing over the intricate lace, flattening my hand over his bare skin and tight muscles. Levi was practically shaking, but he didn't move away, didn't tell me to stop.

Something inside me was breaking free. I felt alive—reborn after years of living death. I was in control, and it felt so… right.

I hadn't been in control of anything for a very long time, and never would have imagined being in control over a man like this. He could break me with one blow, but he didn't.

How far would Levi let me take it?

I stepped back, wary of the rise of possessive need in my heart. I didn't want to be like my captors. I didn't want to force anyone to do anything. Though Levi hadn't indicated any hesitation or reluctance, I didn't trust myself. What else did I know other than control and submission? And yet… there was something in Levi’s eyes when I demanded things of him. I needed to think… to process.

Backing out of the room, I gestured to the shower. "You should get in. I'm sorry I interrupted you."

Levi took a half-step forward, a look of concern on his face, but I fled to the half-bathroom at the front of the house, not ready to explain what was going on in my head.