hel

warm sunlight spill across my skin

a small weight beside my arm... and

ids flu

ng at the edge of the bed-knees tucked tightly t

ossy, staring at me like he was

ered, his little

cracked i

ough as I pushed myself

my lap with all the force his tiny body could manage. He buried his

sobbed. "I look

ed straight

tly despite how sore and weak my limbs felt.

lling back just a little.

ck of his small head, my voice

rling closer into me like

wasn't the full truth, but I c

ays did. "I get scared sometimes too. And P

at his innocent betraya

real

have to be like Papa. I'll be here

ien did save me... bu

danger if I hadn't tied

anything, a knock s

both turne

e in," I s

- not one I recognised. Damien had too man

e said politely, bowing his head. "I'

and ste

me. "Papa wan

led sh

I murmured. "I just...

d close, his small h

ervingly so. Leo walked beside me, holding my

hispered, giving my fi

softly.

the tall wood

fireplace. Shelves lined the walls, filled with files, w

d, hair slightly undone from lack of sleep. H

ftened in hi

che

art j

d then. He spoke like a man who

ou wanted to see me," I sa

odded once.

arsh. But it still m

tre of the room. Not

e whole time-quiet,

etter," he

ent to wash u

oo

ettled between us

ed slowly, as

ppened yesterday c

ned. "I

oftened. "I don't

lin

forward, on

n the

cked over my

e panic. The dange

oat ti

Damien continued. "But Vance... reminded me that

ze. Embarrassed

" he said quietly, "I

ced m

return to

like a

ood

ched as the w

I whispered, har

nodded. "On

se, the

rotection. Discreet. Five men, no more. Y

d suddenly-ho

ks, supplies, clothing-you will use the

't eve

t even

st m

d and wrapped my

lsive, a burst of relief an

nt absolu

caught-shar

he didn't kn

ck, not touching, not pushing me away...

ately, face burning. "I-I didn't mean to-

was f

lly f

breath stuck some

he said, his voice low. "It w

his lips. "Glad to see you aren't scared t

ing far more sensual and intim

at my flustered face, then s

em out. I took them from his gloved hands. One w

k cred

is name engrave

for an

ted things,"

hing that makes you comfortable here.

ace my broken laptop charger! And maybe get that insanely expensiv

oticing Damien's quiet amusement w

e blush. It was

was f

grin, but I saw it. "