But I needed to hold onto some of it. Needed to remind myself that while this, right now, was … wonderful … he was still out to steal my soul.

I don’t think he is, though … it doesn’t feel that way anymore …

I was going to have to shut that little voice up.

“I can’t believe you listened to that pimply little moron at the donut stand!” I finally blurted. “He’s barely finished puberty. What would he know about gluten allergy?”

SJ was quiet for a long moment.

“I—stupidly, in hindsight—assumed that he was knowledgeable and would answer my questions accurately.” He inhaled deeply. Was he sniffing my hair? If he was, I didn’t hate it.

“I … would like to apologise, for tonight, Jemma.”

Oh.

Oh wow.

I couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe. Could only lie there, snug in his warm, all-encompassing arms, and … feel. I didn’t think any man in my life had ever, ever apologised to me before when they had wronged me. Not Chad. Certainly not Joe.

When he spoke, his lips brushed against my temple. “I had … misgivings before I went through with it. But please … I need you to believe me that I would never have … had I known the extent of it …”

“I forgive you,” I blurted, then snapped my mouth shut. Did I forgive him?

Oh my God. I did.

“You … you do?” His voice was low, husky. His breath fanned over my ear, making me shiver. “Are you cold, Mouse?” He pulled me closer.

“I … no. I’ve never felt warmer.” I relaxed into his embrace, letting the warmth wash over me. The soreness in my belly was already easing from his touch.

“So … are you going to tell me why you hate the dark so much?”

Shit.

I’d been doing such a good job of pretending that hadn’t happened. It was easy in the warm glow of his body, to forget the darkness … and the memories it dredged up.

“Lots of people are scared of the dark,” I hedged, but my voice was wobbly, and I shivered.

“But not to the point where they scream the way you did, I’d wager.” He moved his hands in small, comforting circles on my belly. “Talk to me, Mouse.”

Pressure built in my chest. Words that I’d never really told anyone except the police, they were clamouring to come out. My heart thundered. And suddenly, one of his hands slid up my belly, pressing against my chest. The warmth, the glowing light, it eased the edge of my panic.

“Do you promise you won’t use this against me, SJ?” I asked, buying time, scrambling to get my chaotic emotions under control. “I don’t want to spill my secrets to you only to find them thrown back in my face in a week’s time.”

“I promise. I will not use anything you tell me tonight to hurt you.”