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Gideon’s thumb caressedsettled by the contact

Dr

Petersen flipped open the protective case of his tablet and settledin particular you’d like to discuss?" "Tuesday was tough," I said quietly

"I iht

Can you tellup frohtmare to find h that night and the following day"So you’re sleeping separately now?" Dr

Petersen asked

"Yes"

"Your nightmares" - he looked up atGideon, it’d been almost two years since my last one"

I watched hi about his somberness made me anxious

"I love him," I blurted

Gideon stiffened beside me

Dr

Petersen’s head calanced at Gideon, then back to me

"I don’t doubt it

What ed aardly, hyperaware of Gideon’s gaze on rimly

His words rubbed over me like sandpaper

"Is that true?" Dr

Petersen asked me"No"

"The hell it isn’t"

The rasp in Gideon’s voice was pronounced

"It’s not," I argued, although I’d needed him to say it aloud for me to understand that

"I just

It’s just the truth

That’s the way I feel"

I looked at Dr

Petersen

"We have toto make this work," I stressed

"I just want to know that you’re on the sae

I need to know that you understand that failure isn’t an option"

"Eva"

He sh, but it’s certainly not insurmountable"

My breath left ain, with a decisive nod

Gideon surged to his feet, his grip crushingly tight on my hand

"If you’ll excuse us a minute, Doctor"

Confused and a little worried, I stood and followed him out to the empty reception area

Dr

Petersen’s receptionist had already gone home, and ere his last appoint appointrateful that Gideon illing to pay for them not once but twice a week

The door shut behind us, and I faced him

"Gideon, I swear it’s not - " "Hush"

He cuppedsoftly but urgently over th of two heartbeats to slide rip his lean waist

When his tongue stroked deep into my mouth, a lowthe saeous businessman in a dark suit that I’d first met, but the look in his eyes

My throat burned

The power and scorching intensity, the hunger and need

His fingertips brushed over my temples, across my cheeks, down to ently against , but he didn’t have to

I got it

He linked our fingers and led h the security turnstiles of the Crossfire and grinned when I saw Cary waiting forhow he ed to make worn jeans and a V-neck T-shirt look expensive

"Hey, stranger"

He held out his hand to h the side door hand-in- hand

"You’re looking happy"

The noonday heat hit h

It’s hot as hell

Let’s pick somewhere close

You up for tacos?" "Hell yeah"

I took hiuuilty his greeting made me feel

I hadn’t been ho a weekend trip ahichout with Cary again

It had been a relief when he’d agreed towithout checking in with hiht?" I asked, after ordering for both of us

"One of the photographers I’ve worked with is having a birthday bash tonight

I figured I’d pop in for a bit and see how it goes"

He rocked back on his heels as aited for our tacos and blended virginwith your boss’s sister? You guys wanna coot concert tickets

I’m her last hope, she said, but even if I wasn’t, I think it’ll be fun

At least I hope so