Alhaitham’s sharp, green eyes stared down at your head bowed in front of him. It was close—far closer than any other person had ever been before. His muscles flexed slightly at the touch of your hands.

He wanted to move. He wanted to grab ahold of you… But for whatever reason, he refrained from doing so.

Alhaitham clenched both his fists as he forced his emotions down; he couldn’t act on them.

“Careful, beautiful,” he grunted, his gaze dropping to the bullet wound on his shoulder.