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Energy lapped between us.

A crackle in the constant simmer.

Was I making it up?

The need I was sure I could see toiling in those dark, espresso eyes? Was I delusional or was his strong body edged in something that he always kept under lock and key?

I was sorely inexperienced. I had some, but not enough to read a man like him.

But still…I…I knew him.

I knew him better than anyone else.

“You’ve always taken care of me,” I murmured.

A big palm settled on my cheek. “It’s what I was meant to do. I’d give anything for you.”

I wanted to say something else. To push past the boundaries scored between us. I was always careful. The one time I’d tried something with him…

Embarrassment burned my cheeks, and I wondered if he knew exactly the moment my mind had spiraled back to.

Because he blinked a slow blink and his thick throat bobbed as he swallowed.

His gaze was stormy when he stepped back, but not as volatile as his voice. “You’re safe with me, Elena. No one will touch you.”

I didn’t need him to say it aloud for me to hear the rest.

Not even me.

TWELVE

TREVAN

Me

Someone left a fucking hourglass at Elena’s door.

I paced outside that door, feeling like I was going to come unglued. I’d had to get out of that small space with Elena before I lost it. Before I did something really fucking stupid that couldn’t be undone.

Something reckless.

Selfish.

But fuck. The way she’d been looking up at me had nearly done me in.

Hazel eyes warm. Inviting.

Belief and trust woven within.

Need etched in the shallows.

I blamed it on the close quarters. This really fucking bad idea that Silas had had, even though he didn’t know the half of it.

I scraped an agitated hand over the top of my head as I waited for the first reply.

I’d sent the text to the secure group thread I had with Silas, Phoenix, and Brody.

Brody, Silas and Elena’s younger brother, had been brought into our tight, first-line circle after he’d become a fully patched-in member a few months back. He’d been an intrinsic part of the raid that had taken out Kent and his fucking mob, and Silas could no longer question that his brother was truly one of us.