“His name?”
“Fish,” I said.
Vanya made a choking noise. “Oh, so creative. I see skills only on ice.”
I flipped him off as I set my cane against thecounter, then dropped my bag and ran my fingers through my hair. “Okay, uh…I actually think my place is pretty safe and quiet. So maybe I should just stay.”
Vanya said nothing for a beat, and then I heard him slip off the stool. He made a lot of noise as he closed the distance between us, and I braced myself for a touch that I wanted but didn’t come. “Is what you really want?”
“I want to not be afraid to go about my fucking business or to sleep in my own bed,” I blurted, and then my cheeks went hot. I did not need to be dumping all this on him.
He let out a soft breath. “I can touch you?”
“Uh…”
“Your arm. For comfort.”
I wasn’t used to people telegraphing their intentions with me like that. Most people assumed they could manhandle me and take what they wanted. But even when Vanya got a little forward, I could tell he was always watching me, always paying attention.
Always waiting for permission, even if I didn’t always give it verbally. He was the first person in so, so long who hadn’t crossed my boundaries. Who hadn’t taken my comfort levels and stomped all over them.
“Sure.”
His touch was soft and hesitant at first—big fingers wrapping around my forearm, then dragging down toward my wrist. He gave a little tug, and Istumbled a step toward him. Our chests bumped, and I found myself swaying into him rather than away.
It was different from the night we’d fucked. It was different from last night when he’d teased me so badly I nearly gave in. This was just him, wrapping around me, protecting me from the ghosts in the room.
“I don’t think staying here is what you want,” he murmured, his fingers going tighter on my skin. His touch moved up, dragging to the center of my palm, and it took everything in me not to groan with how good it felt. Fuck, how long had it been since anyone was soft like this with me?
Hugo? On the train, maybe?
“How would you know what I want?” I rasped.
He huffed a sigh. “Because is what I would want. If horrible man was stalking me, I would want friends around. And I know we were something else before, but I can be both. I can be whatever you need me to be. Micah,” he said, his voice a little rough, “I will protect you.”
Bowing my head, I found myself nodding without really meaning to. But Jesus, I was so tired of pushing everyone away. I didn’t want to be alone. I was just sick and fucking tired of people getting the wrong idea every time I reached out for a little something like this.
I trusted him, in spite of myself and my lack of faith in all of humanity. I trusted that for now, he’d give me this and only this and not ask for more.
I let out a small breath that sounded like a sob, and then I swallowed it back. “Thank you.”
“Yes,” Vanya whispered softly. “Is okay now. Come. We pack a bag, get everything you need. Maybe blanket or pillow. Tenny bear?”
“Tenny…? Oh my god, I don’t have ateddybear,” I said, swiping at my face. My cheeks were dry, but for some reason, it still felt like I’d been crying.
He laughed. “You should. I have one. He’s very soft. Very cute. It was a gift from little fan after my first goal before I play on NHL ice.”
That was annoyingly adorable.
Pushing past him, I walked to my closet and felt around until I found my travel bag. There was shit rattling around the bottom from the last roadie, but I ignored it, moving to my dresser to shove in something to sleep in and something to change into tomorrow.
Fuck, this was not how I wanted to spend my night.
“More than that,” he said.
I frowned, turning to face him. “What do you mean more than that?”
“Stay through the weekend. Just in case.” His voice was soft and a little hesitant. “Until we figure out how to stop him stalking.”
