The dark sky and dark room blended. He could make out the shadow of her open closet across the room and the small flower-print chair in the corner.

He inhaled, dragging the scent of her shampoo into his senses. He lay behind her with an arm draped over her and his hand on her stomach. They relaxed on the couch for a few hours, not saying anything. Just breathing and sleeping. He let the silence wrap around her and calm her jumping thoughts.

The talk about her leaving and changing identities again had ripped through him. The response he wanted to say—fuck no—died on his lips. He tried to sound neutral and not let her see how much the idea of not seeing her again bothered him. Hell, the slicing sensation that tore into him at the thought surprised him.

They were seeing each other. It was new and shouldn’t mean that much yet, but it did. He hated the idea of losing her before he could really know her. He hated that loss of independence even more for her.

Wanting out didn’t mean getting out and she’d driven that realization home tonight.

Long after they showered and she drifted off to sleep, he stared at the ceiling of the quiet room. Thinking and trying not to think at the same time.

Life was easier when he kept his head down and sat at a desk almost all day. He hadn’t planned on her or how she would flip his life inside out. The few weeks of vacation he promised to take vanished and she became his focal point. How to help her. How to protect her. How to make her happy . . . how to stay with her.

He listened to her soft breathing and relaxed again. Another round of tension would guarantee a night without sleep and he needed a few hours. His focus had to be on getting through the next few days. Watching over her and working with her as Daria and Evan and whoever else from her past washed up on shore.

Minutes ticked by and he forced his eyes to close. He inhaled, trying to clear his mind. The locks on the door helped. So did Ben’s promise he’d patrol the area all night. Stay on call.

That sucked for Ben but it was the job and he’d do it. That provided Connor with some sense of security.

With one last kiss on her bare shoulder, he drifted. Sleep came in and out. He’d finally started to fall under when he heard the clicking. A scraping sound. The same one he realized woke him earlier.