“Stay.” Brody’s gaze locked with mine. “Stay with me tonight.” My muscles locked. “Just to sleep. I need to feel you next to me. To know you’re safe. That I’m not alone in this. That I’m not going to drown in pain and death.”

“I’ll stay.”

He leaned forward, his movements slow, and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. It was the barest brush of touch, but it stoked a fire somewhere deep. And as he pulled away, my body made a move to follow, wanting more, wanting…everything. I blinked, trying to clear that pull. When I took in Brody again, he was grinning. I glared at him. “It’s not nice to be so cocky.”

He gave me another quick kiss, this time to my forehead. “I like knowing I affect you.”

“Maybe it’s just that it’s been a long time for me. Maybe anyone’s lips near mine would have the same effect.”

That grin slipped right off Brody’s face, replaced by a scowl. “Not cool.”

I chuckled and pressed a quick kiss to his jaw before scooting around and out of the nook. “Fine. Your lips are the eighth wonder of the world, and I’m powerless against them.”

“That’s better,” he said, pushing to his feet to help me clear the table.

It was a little too accurate for my peace of mind. Brody’s mouth made me reckless. The only thing I wanted to do was give myself over to it. To know what it would feel like places other than my lips. And that made me more than a little dumb.

We moved in tandem, following the silent rhythm we’d developed over the past couple of months. It was comforting, that quiet dance. It carried with it the recognition that someone knew me. My patterns and the way I moved through life. Even if that was only how I liked to load the dishwasher or where I kept my favorite paring knife. It wrapped around me like a warm embrace that I never wanted to leave.

Brody came up behind me, his hands going to my shoulders, massaging lightly. “I’m beat.”

I was, too. We’d eaten way too late after I’d had to move my morning chores to the afternoon, forcing Brody along for the ride simply because I didn’t want him out of my sight. “I could sleep.” At least, I hoped. I couldn’t imagine relaxing enough to slip into unconsciousness, not with Brody right next to me.

He gave my hand a tug. “Let’s go.”