ini

fter midnight, and it was not j

during heat. Beneath all of it was something uniquely Theo, softer and dangerously addictive enough that every protective instinct I had

ections across his face. His breathing stayed uneven, every inhale shaky enough for me to hear the strain underneath it. Every

ether that something tightened painfully

to sleep

usted enough that the sound barely resembl

hter around himself, I notic

urting,"

ore answering. "Ye

ames. Not in interviews. Not even after injuries that should have sidelined him for weeks. But exh

rward sligh

and somehow still trusting me despite everything that had hap

m quietly. "I can help you through t

to pull him into my lap, bury my face against his throat, and scent him until the entire world understood he

he words

veral seconds before whi

I pro

it was only partly true. I did not

s tightened around the blanket. "You

ugh almost escaped me. "You th

pearing again, tired and painfully real in a way that felt s

what I'm doing

ipped of pride or anger and leaving only the exhausted t

oser. "You don't ha

angerously trusting sat openly in his expr

knew wha

I said

pathetic," he ru

I gr

den slightly in surprise. I reached up slowly and brushed one dark c

e this long isn't p

tantly, softer now and trusting in a way that nearly wrecked what little control

refully. "If you want

ag, fingers tightening around the strap like he meant to stand up and leave. Then his legs gave

nough for a frustrated sound to escape him

uch him or speak because thi

is face looked painfully exhausted, like someone who had spent years running without

ou first," h

, half-asleep against my chest earlier tonight, but n

inued softly. "Before anything els

rain tapped softly against the windows.

him back. Heat made people lose control, and attach

it was not. Theo kissed like someone unused to being wanted back-hesitant a

oment I kissed him back. Every

it felt like his body had already spent years waiting for this moment. His fingers twisted tightly into my

that, gentler, and felt hi

" I br

d overwhelmed from heat, trust,

etly, pulling back just eno

tion before whispering o

beneath the word,