He snorted a quiet laugh. “Blue. Everyone say it bring out my eyes.”
“I bet it does.” I’d heard that phrase before, but I had no idea what it could possibly mean. The concept of sight had always confused me at best, but sometimes there were things I wanted to understand. “What kind of blue are they? Like the sky? Like the ocean?”
“Like…like summer storm. Cloudy. Sort of grey,” he murmured. His forehead was still on mine, and he was rocking it back and forth. I’d lost track of the SUV. Was it still there?
Was Hunter still watching?
“Like the wind right before it rains? That smell?” I asked.
“Yes. I think is a good metaphor.” His fingers in my hair softened to a gentle stroke, then trailed down the back of my neck. “I think…” He moved back. “Yes, he’s gone.”
My entire body sagged forward, and all the breath left my lungs. I might have collapsed, except Vanya was still holding me upright.
“Come on. My car right over to the left.” He started to tug me, but I froze.
“If he’s gone, I can call a ride…”
“Mm, no. Not this time. He didn’t get message last night, and if he comes back, I don’t want you tobe alone. I promise I know you can handle yourself. I have seen you fight. You are very vicious. But I don’t trust a man who does something like this.”
I let out a heavy breath. The truth was, I wanted him to stay. I didn’t want to be alone. Last night was hard enough, and right now, I didn’t want to fight this battle on my own. I couldn’t ask him for more than this evening, but for the moment, I let myself lean into my tender, vulnerable spots.
“Thank you.”
His hands spasmed on my waist, and then he let go and tapped his elbow against my arm. I took it, and my knees managed to stay strong enough to get me across the parking lot and into his car. It was an SUV too, but not as massive as Hunter’s. The seats were comfortable, and it smelled like new vinyl.
“I’ll put my address in my GPS,” I told him when he was in the car. It started with a low rumble, and then the silence was filled with the slowed-down voice on my phone. Taking a breath, I turned to face him. “Do you mind if I just…sit here quiet for a bit?”
“Just rest,” he told me. “I will get you home safe.”
If I was wrong, I would have only myself to blame, but in that moment, I trusted him with everything I was.
CHAPTER NINE
MICAH
By the timewe pulled up to my condo, I was having a panic attack. I wasn’t even aware of it until I started to open the door and it felt like the earth beneath me had flipped. I wasn’t used to dizzy spells, so it took me a second to realize what was happening, and by the time I did, my breath was hitching in my chest.
“…Micah? Hey. Is okay. I’m here. I’m going to take your hand, okay? Just squeeze.”
It took me a moment to realize what was happening. Vanya’s big, calloused, strong hand was in mine, gently pulsing around my fingers.
It took me a moment to be able to grasp him back, but when I did, I felt immediately grounded. “Sorry,” I rasped, my voice barely a whisper. Clearing my throat, I tried again. “Sorry. Shit. I don’t know what the fuck happened.”
“Just breathe,” Vanya murmured. He was closenow, leaning over the console. I could smell his minty breath again.
“I—I think I’m having a panic attack,” I stammered. The anxiety was starting to pull back, and in its place was a weird sort of embarrassment. God, did I really have to look like such a mess in front of Vanya all the fucking time?
“Can you tell me why?”
I furrowed my brows. I didn’t actually know why. Except…oh. Yes, I did. Hunter. It all boiled down to fucking Hunter. “He knows where I live.”
Vanya’s fingers spasmed around mine. “That fucking guy? From the stalking?”
I choked out a laugh. “Yeah. Hunter. The guy from the stalking.”
“Okay. Easy problem. You come home with me.”
“Oh my god. Vanya,no. I?—”
