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My head whips up, shocked to find Lucas kneeling next to me, holding the box in place for me to scoop everything in. His eyes are locked on the vibrator.

But when I look at him, his gaze lifts to meet mine, as if automatically. His pupils have drowned out any blue in his eyes.

I watch his throat move on a swallow. Willing him not to say anything.

But also willing him to say something.

“What I wouldn’t give to know if you have one of these already in my house,” he says, his voice like gravel.

I suck in a breath, the sound loud in the still space between us.

“I—uh, I…”

He swallows again. Then pulls back slightly.

“Sorry,” he murmurs. “I didn’t— Ah, sorry.” He nods at the pile in front of me. “Why don’t you…handle this stuff, and I’ll carry out the other boxes and wait by the car.” He stands before I can answer and grabs the nearest box.

“Oh, okay.” I snap back to reality and turn back to the task in front of me.

We don’t talk again after that. It only takes another fifteen minutes to grab my remaining things—it pays to be a minimalist nomad—and then lock up my apartment. I’m sliding my key under the door when I hear a new voice behind me.

“You moving out, cutie?”

I turn to face the drug dealer from last week—who’s now conveniently perched in front of my door, stretching his neck to try to get a look inside.

I nod stiffly as I lift a bag from the floor. “Yup. It was just a temporary stay.”

I’m already thinking about how to extricate myself from this conversation when he sends me the most pathetic-looking pout I’ve ever seen. “I didn’t even get a chance to ask you out for a drink,” he whines.

I try not to let the cringe show on my face. I cannot believe this guy is the one who scared me out of this building.

“Well, I don’t drink, and I’m not really interested in meeting new people.” I hike the bag higher on my shoulder, glancing down the hallway where Lucas had disappeared to. “So on that note…I have to get going. Have a nice night.”

I turn away, but before I can take more than a step, I feel a hand grip my arm.

“Ah, come on, sweetheart,” he purrs with a friendly smile. “You won’t even give me a chance? I promise I’ll be a gentleman…”

“I don’t need to give you a chance,” I spit back at him, anger finally rising above the nerves. “I don’t owe you anything.” I yank at my arm, but he doesn’t loosen his grip. “Let go of me.”

At that, his face twists into an ugly expression. Gone is the playful sweet talker, and in its place is the hard drug dealer who doesn’t take no for an answer. “You owe me some respect.”

It’s not the sight of him that scares me. It’s the memories that it brings up. Suddenly, all I can think about is the crowd that my father hung around, the people who moved through my teenage years during a time when I was grieving and lonely. I thought if I ever met their type again, I’d be able to push back, but…

“Let go of her.”

I’m not prepared for the soothing effect that Lucas’s voice has on me. Instantly, the memories fade into the past, and a feeling of relief blooms in my chest.

The man’s eyes dart behind me. I have no idea if he’s about to challenge Lucas or fold because it’s another man, but at least he lets go of my arm.

“She yours?” he asks with a sniff.

Lucas’s presence must do more than just soothe me, because I find myself opening my mouth to bark back at him. But then I feel Lucas’s hand land on the back of my neck.

“She’s my…girlfriend, if that’s what you mean.” His voice sounds tight, tripping over the word. I want so badly to turn around to get a read on him, but he’s locked me in place with his grip.

The man lets out a disappointed grunt and steps back, pulling the joint from behind his ear and lighting it. “Should’ve known she wouldn’t be single.” His eyes drop over my body once more, making me shiver.

But then I feel Lucas gently tug me toward him, steering me in the opposite direction. “Definitely not,” he says, sounding distracted.