I went after him, my gun ready. Some of the guards followed too. I caught up with him just as he walked out on the terrace. It was dark outside, but the light coming through the windows from inside was enough for me to see that there wasn’t anyone on the terrace. Well, except for James. He was holding the cat in his arms and petting it.

I holstered my gun and waved at the guards to go back to their posts. Some hesitated, probably because James was with me, but then they went away.

“If you think I’m going to let you keep it, you’re wrong,” I said jokingly.

A smile spread across his lips, then he lowered the cat down and watched as it ran across the terrace and toward the vines that were wrapped around the railing.

I made my way toward the railing, looking at the yard and the trees. The moon was peeking out from behind the clouds, and the guards were circling around.

James came to stand next to me and leaned on the railing. We stood there in silence for a while, just enjoying the view. His presence was strangely comforting. A cold gush of wind came from out of nowhere, making me shudder. James glanced at me and stepped closer, reaching out for me. I went completely still, my pulse speeding up. What was he doing? He had to be trying to reach for the gun in my holster.

When his arm brushed my back, it was as if a current of electricity had passed through me. I should push him away, but I hadn’t felt someone’s warm body next to mine for a long time. So what if it was all a trick? So what if he grabbed my gun? He could try to force me to change the terms of our deal or to terminate it, but it wouldn’t work.

I waited for his move, but all I got was his warmth seeping into me. I tore away from him with a gasp, my knees feeling shaky. No. This couldn’t be happening. I wasn’t about to get close and personal with Desmond’s son. His eyes widened a little, as if he’d just realized what he’d been doing, and then he looked away from me.

“Let’s go downstairs,” I said. “Now.”

We didn’t speak at all as I took him back to my room and locked him inside. I needed to clear my head, but all I could think about was how much I’d wanted to lean into him and let him embrace me. I wished I knew what had been going through his mind. Had he been imagining I was one of his sisters who he needed to protect or had it been something else?