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But then the door bursts open and he’s right there Daodda withI casually put the flute on the nearby table, hoping that he doesn’t realize the dark direction in which , I fear he isn’t going to say a word His face is firm, his eyes sad "You should have called me out for bullshit," he finally says, and I allow lass; he didn’t realize what I was thinking

"Of course it’s about us," he continues "There’s nothing in my life that isn’t about us How could there be when my world revolves around you?"

"Don’t," I say, still unbalanced and edgy "Don’t shift the focus by plying er fire in his eyes as crosses the stateroo shut behind him "Platitudes?" he repeats, his tone hard "Jesus, Nikki, are you telling me you don’t knohat you mean to ers only inches frole day that we’ve been together?"

I can feel the heat rolling off him A violent passion A sensual need I close h me in response Oh, yes I kno he feels about me; I feel the sa to ht so hard

Slowly, I open my eyes and tilt my head to look at him "I know," I say "But that doesn’t make it relevant Maynard didn’t call about stock prices or your corporate logo or what they serve in the godda at one mad, and maybe I have a little But dammit, I want him to understand

"We’re not attached at the hip, Daood I don’t want to steal your autonomy any more than I want to hand you mine But I have nized the shadows I saw in your eyes So don’t trivialize so it sound like so to require us to reschedule dinner next Thursday"

He raises an eyebrow as he looks at me "Well," he says, and that siment

After a moment, he takes the last step toward ently takes htly upon s heavy between us, full of both questions and hope

I re to keepto crash Finally, I can take it no longer I reach for him, then stroke h the words seeh it renched froht, I close --to hear the words back He has not said that he loves me since an in earnest and the attorneys warned hi jail and his future if he didn’t testify

I need to hear it now, though I desperately need him to say those three little words Not because I doubt that Damien loves me, but because I cannot shake the fear that we are on a collision course with the real world, and that those words are our only shield once our shiny, protective bubble shatters

He says nothing, though He siht around me as if that is all the protection I need

When he does speak, his words surprisethat I bribed soes dropped"