ack into the room, thicker than before. Julian's g

iny. She pushed her glasses up, a

u," she s

t. "I'm making an investment in my own legs. If your

y protective impulse, couchi

fair," F

unlight cut through the gloom, illuminating the dust motes drifting in the air. The light

said. "That wasn't the behavior

ainst the light. "What should I have

sm colored her voice.

ulate. And," he paused, "y

level with his. "Why should I be? Right now, you're my p

ll the clean scent of soap on her skin-a stark

s absence of fear or

caught her chin, his grip firm,

jaw tightened. She

lian commanded, his thumb b

ckering behind her lenses. A si

reached up and slowly rem

eep, calm brown, but holding a startling depth-the eyes of someo

nness. What he found instead was something

e lower than he'd intended, carry

idn't

ut through the

voice. "The items you

tting distance between them. She slipped her glasses back on, and the ma

hand, the ghost of her warm

id, his voice return

ainless‑steel cart with neat

All business. She inspected each it

ian, her voice stripped of all emotion: "Now,

d was a splash of cold wate

ened, but he complied, m

nd held it over the flame of an alcohol lam

o this room, this man,