As you step out of your room you almost trip over a huge male body, sleeping right in front of the door. "Massimo?" you ask softly.

He leaps to his feet and pushes you behind him. So your squished between his massive form and the wall while he snaps his head from side to side to look for threats in the hallway. His left hand is pinning you to the wall by your hip, but his right is gripping a weapon at the ready.

He looks rather deranged. "Um... There's no one there," I mumble into his back.

He's still wearing the gray dress shirt and black pants from the previous evening.

"You can put the gun away, Massimo."

"Sorry." he says in a gruff voice and picks up the pillow off the floor. "I'm usually more alert when I wake up." His voice hoarse from sleep

"Why were you sleeping at my door?"

He just turns and heads down the hall, avoiding the conversation. You trail after him along the corridor and up the stairs to the upper floor.

"Will you please answer me?"

He pulls out a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, then closes the distance separating you. Your fingers ache to reach out and stroke his chest.

"I slept in front of your door." He confesses. Your head snaps up to look at him. "Why?"

"Because I need to know that you're safe." He lifts a wet strand of you hair that has fallen over your face and tucks it behind your ear.

"And, because for some reason, it's the only place in this house where I can actually get some rest." He mumble as if he's ashamed.