Page 32 of Relentless Touch

He took a bite and groaned. The salt and caramelized fat helped more than Rio knew.

Rio poured him a glass of water and sat across from him.

Kevin tried to keep his tone light. “Usually I fall for guys who drag me behind bars, not out of them.”

Rio’s eyebrows twitched, but he didn’t rise to the bait.

They ate in quiet. Every so often, Rio’s gaze flicked to Kevin’s cheek or to the way he cradled his wrist. He kept waiting for Rio to push for details, but the man never did. It made the words easier to spill out.

“I thought Ameer was going to shoot you,” Kevin said, low. “He had the gun on us. Didn’t even bother with a cliché villain speech. Just aimed and fired.”

Rio’s mouth curved in a hard line. “He won’t get the chance again.”

That was probably true, but Kevin could still feel the pressure of that moment. The room. The fear.

He hadn’t ever felt fear like that, not even in his childhood.

Kevin picked at the food, needing to move, needing to do anything that wasn’t remembering.

He forced a joke. “You think they’ll let me file for worker’s comp on this?”

Rio’s eyes didn’t budge. “You’re not working. You’re recovering.”

After working through half the steak, Kevin pushed aside his plate. “You’re being very quiet.”

Rio didn’t reply. He cleaned the few dishes in the sink.

When he spoke, his voice was a little wrecked. “I almost lost you tonight. If I hadn’t found those tracks… I’m just trying to work through it.”

“Okay.” Tears welled in Kevin’s eyes. His mate looked like he was struggling to keep it together.

Rio nodded. “Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “How’re you holding up?”

“I keep seeing Ameer’s eyes,” Kervin admitted. “I’ve met a few men with the creepy vibe, but that guy’s on a different level.”

The cabin, the darkness, the way Ameer’s eyes had glinted when he told Kenai to stay down or he’d break a leg flashed through Kevin’s mind.

He hadn’t wanted to show fear, had bitten through his tongue to keep quiet.

Wrapping his arms around himself, Kevin rubbed at the bruised wrist.

Rio poured him another glass of water. “Eat more.”

Kevin did, more out of giving his mate what he wanted than hunger. He felt his energy coming back.

He looked around the kitchen, at the neat rows of spice jars, the folded towels. Everything had a place, and Kevin had been helping to make it their home.

“Are you sure you’re not upset with me?” This kind of silence was making Kevin crazy. “Maybe you changed your mind about… me.”

Rio stared at Kevin like he was daft.

“You’re mine.”

Kevin grinned. “So possessive. I’m eating it up.”

“Try eating up your food.” Rio’s nodded at his plate. “I want you. End of story.”

Despite the numerous times Kevin had let his doubt take over, Rio had never backed down.