In the counseling center, Kit entered the group session room and breathed in the air lightly scented with jasmine.

Taking a seat, Kit exchanged greetings with the others. When the clock hit seven, the counselor started the session, talking about sex after surviving sexual assault.

Kit shifted uncomfortably. Wasn’t this just a timely subject?

After the lecture, the discussion started.

A couple of women volunteered that they had no interest in sex whatsoever.

Fernanda never wanted to be with a man again but might have found a girlfriend.

Diana, who was married, had resumed sexual relations, but Signy was having plenty of problems. Her husband had grown impatient at how long she was taking to get back to what he considered normal.

Getting back to normal would really be nice, wouldn’t it? Thinking of Hawk, Kit bit her lip.

The counselor, darn her, noticed. “Kit, where are you at in the journey?”

“I’m…” She felt warmth searing her cheeks. “First, I feel weirdly guilty because I haven’t lost interest in sex.”

“At all?” Fernanda asked, obviously shocked.

“Uh, right after, for a couple of months, even the thought was sickening. But now, things seem alive again, and…”

“And?” Diana prompted.

“I’ve always liked sex—a lot. The physical parts of it and getting off. I’d like to have a sex life back, only”—she pulled in a breath—“I feel kind of like a slut or something.”

The response from the others was so reassuring.

Even better, Fernanda with the new girlfriend felt the same and had the same disconcerting guilt—as if she shouldn’t want sex any longer, but she did.

Which was stupid when it came right down to it. Did Kit want Obadiah and the other creeps to steal something she’d always enjoyed?

No, she wasn’t about to let them win that game in her head.

“Do you have someone in mind?” Diana asked. “To have sex with?”

“Um, yes?” Oh, God, how could she talk about Hawk?

How could she not?

She almost laughed. Thank goodness the group sessions were in Soldotna rather than Rescue. “He…he’s the one I asked to care for my son.”

They’d all shared their stories at this point, so Signy clarified, “The one who saved you and killed your husband?”

“You have the hots for your rescuer,” another said. “That could be like some hero syndrome or something?”

“Maybe.” The counselor frowned slightly. “Tell us about him, Kit. The good and the bad.”

Hmm. “He doesn’t talk much. Part of it is that his throat was damaged when he was a kid; partly, I think he just doesn’t like to talk.” She smiled a little. “And he swears a ton and sounds grumpy all the time. He has tattoos up both arms. And scars—a lot of those. He was a mercenary after being in the army.”