“How?” I asked, turning to face her. “You don’t let yourself have friends. You won’t play your violin for anyone but me. And you’re incredible. You’re hiding this talent away from the world. But why?”

Her jaw hardened. “You know why.”

“Shay…” I moved in close so I could see every fleck of gold in her gorgeous hazel eyes. “Michael doesn’t know where you are. Do you really think having a few friends or playing a local gig will expose you?”

“It’s not worth the risk.”

“Just like I’m not, right?” I could feel the battle within Shay every day. While she slept in my bed, surrendered her mouth to mine, she always had one foot out the door.

She stepped back, her gaze heating. “I thought you said we could go at my pace.”

Hell. I closed the distance, cupping her face in my hands. “That’s not how I meant it. I’m happy to hold you. But I feel you pulling away every time we get a little closer. Maybe it’s instinct. You’ve been pushing people away for a long time. But I don’t want you to push me away.”

Her eyes shone in the afternoon light. “I don’t want to, but I can’t help it. Every person I’ve ever gotten close to, Michael found a way to hurt.”

I wrapped my arms around Shay, pulling her tight against me. The scars that littered her body weren’t the only wounds she still carried. And the ones in her mind would be much harder to recover from. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. I promise.”

She burrowed into the crook of my neck. “I’m not going to lie. Caring about someone scares the hell out of me. Every time I let you in a little more, my brain screams danger. I don’t know how to turn it off.”

“You don’t have to. You just have to keep stepping forward. Into that unknown. Even when it’s terrifying. That’s relationships. Hell, it’s life. Anything precious requires risk, carries the potential for hurt.”

Shay straightened, her mouth curving. “Are you going to lead by example?”

I fought the curse that wanted to surface. I was a fool of a hypocrite. “I need to paint.”

“Yes, you do. We’ve both let these ghosts haunt us for way too long. We can’t give the monsters space in our brains.”

“How about a trade?”

Shay’s brows rose. “I don’t trade for sexual favors.”

I let out a bark of laughter. “Good to know. I was thinking more along the lines that I’d complete a painting if you played your violin for more than just me.”

She was quiet for a moment before answering. “Deal.”

“And you have to sit for me again.”

She rolled her eyes. “Now, he’s just getting greedy.”