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"Like what?"

"Headaches, dizziness, s Stuff like that But that stuff has mostly resolved" Nix picks up one of h it He rubs his thunosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when I returned to the States It's why I have Harley He's a psychiatric service dog"

"What does that mean?"

"They can be used for lots of things Right after er I'd panic if people walked up behind me Loud noises freaked me out Harley was trained to basically orient e or panic His touch calms me as a simple explanation He was actually trained to walk behind me a bit to make me comfortable that no one would approach me from behind But honestly, most of those proble I've learned to control most of that stuff with some intensive therapy after I returned"

Nix doesn't say anything more for a few seconds and I'm silent I don't knohat to say to this news, because frankly, I don't understand it I only know thatimmensely for this man who has apparently suffered so much

"I can understand if that freaks you out and you want to break things off," Nix says hesitantly

I'm shocked I didn't think this man had a vulnerable cell in his body but he just exposed it to me, clear as day

I spin around in Nix's ar my hands to his face "Never," I say vehemently "I'm just not sure what to say to you You don't answer a lot of questions so I'm not sure what is open territory for me"

Nix kisses me softly and says, "The only other people that knohat I've told you are my dad and my brother"

I go ahead and sit back, now facing Nix so I can look at him I pick up his hand and hold it between the two of mine

"And the writing on your tattoo?" I ask, bringing us back around to inal question

"Let's just say I had a hard tiefulcouldn't controlprovoked h the worst of it Like I said, I learned to use hiative emotions"

As if on cue, Harley jules up to Nix's side He's probably not even aware but his hand i

"Does this conversation upset you?" I ask, noticing how Harley pins himself to Nix

"A little I' you more than anyone other than my family knows"

"So the tattoo"

"That's ot the skull after iven what I'd seen over there Part ofon the positive Which, by the way, I think is bullshit half the time"

I cock hs

"What can I saythe glass is half epositive or inspirational, I memorialize it So I can keep it with me always"

This is interesting

"How do you choose what goes on your tattoo?"

He gives rin, filled withand immediately scoff at it, then I know it's probably an i through e is to e"

I shake my head back and forth with a bemused tilt to my lips

"Are you laughing at me, Burnham?"

Normally, he calls me by my last name to distance hi that makes my insides quiver

"Not laughing Just amazed You have more layers than all the onions in the world combined, Caldwell"

Nix lunges across the bed at sthe sheet down at the same time "Here's one layer I'd like to discover what's underneath"

I giggle but that is soon turned into a gasp of pleasure as he pals his lips to my neck

"Nix?" I e of a full out moan

"H a trail of fire up to my jaw