He nodded. "I could see clear to the mountains."

"I didn't stop you from climbing that fence, did I?"

"No."

"Because I didn't want you to be scared of it."

A sudden smile illuminated his face. "You wanted me to look under the bed."

She smiled in return. "You've got it. And you didn't find any monsters ready to knock you off that fence, did you? Well, I have fences of my own to climb, and I can't be scared or I'll never get to the top."

He was silent a moment. "You stood by the fence while I climbed it. Maybe I could go along in case you needed help."

"Maybe." She laughed. "I'm pretty good at climbing fences these days, but I can always use a little help." She gently pushed him away from her. "We'll see, Barry. Now go and find Dominic. I have to shower."

He ran toward the door and looked over his shoulder with an impish grin. "Yes, you do." He wrinkled his nose. "Phew."

She was still smiling as she turned on the shower. He was changing, growing more independent and responsible every day. Galen's influence? Possibly. Or maybe it was the result of the events of the last few weeks. She was just lucky that they had not made him timid as she'd first been afraid they would. Fear could be a terrible thing.

But you told me I had to face scary stuff, and most of the time that made it go away.

Her smile faded. Easy words to say, not easy words to live by. Yet she believed those words or she wouldn't have spoken them.

I have fences of my own to climb, and I can't be scared or I'll never get to the top.

She was scared. Chavez had damaged her confidence and ripped and scarred her.

Time hadn't healed her yet.

It had already been six years. How much, longer would she have to wait for some miraculous transformation to take place? It wasn't her nature to sit back and take no action once she realized a problem existed.

She closed her eyes and let the warm water pour over her. She didn't want to take action. Not this time.

Not this way.

Galen was sitting on the couch in the living room, reading, when she came into the room. He glanced up from his book. "I thought you'd gone to bed. Something wrong?"

"Yes. Can we go out on the porch?"

"Sure." He rose to his feet. "The kid okay?"

"Barry's fine." She moved toward the front door. The moon was shining, but it was better than the bright lights in here. What a coward she was being, she thought in disgust. It wasn't as if-

"What do you want?" Galen said from behind her.

"You're a problem-solver." She moistened her lips. "I have a problem."

"So?"

"I want you to screw me."

There was no sound for a full minute. "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me."

"Turn around. I want to see something apart from the back of your head."

She took a deep breath, braced herself, and turned around. "Then look at me. What do you see?"

His eyes were narrowed on her face. "Beats me to hell."

"This. is difficult. I never thought I'd- Will you do it?"

"Why?"

"I haven't been with a man willingly since Chavez took me. I've just realized that's a victory for him. I won't let him have it. I won't let him scar me like that."

"Wonderful." Galen's lips tightened. "Makes a man feel really wanted."

"I can't help it. I have to be honest with you."

"Why me? Why not go knocking on Judd's door?"

"There's been something. You know it. I thought it would be easier with you."

"Not the greatest compliment I've received."

"I didn't mean to make you angry." Her voice was shaking. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea."

"Oh, don't back out now. It's just getting interesting."

"Stop it. Just say yes or no." Her chin lifted. "I'd actually rather you said no. This. scares me."

"Oh, shit." The anger disappeared from his expression. "Just when I'd managed to whip up some authentic resentment for this insult to my ego." He took a step closer but didn't touch her. "You always manage to disarm me, dammit."

"I didn't mean to hurt your ego." She looked away from him. "I didn't think you'd mind. It wouldn't be unpleasant. I'd do anything you want. Just ask-`

"Shut up." His hand covered her lips, then moved down to her throat. "You are scared. Your heart is beating like crazy."

It wasn't entirely fear that was causing that response. "I told you I was. I want to be honest." She looked back at him and met his gaze. "I have to do this. I taught Barry that you have to look under the bed if you think a monster is there."

"I'm not sure what that makes me." He smiled. "But I'm not going to be under the bed. Your pulse just jumped under my thumb."

"You're going to do it?"

"There wasn't any question about our coming together from the minute I first put my hands on you." His thumbs rubbed up and down the sides of her neck. "I'm just a poor male unable to quench my lust."

"Thank you." She was having trouble breathing. "Where? The hammock?"

"God, no." He grinned. "I'm lousy in hammocks. I've never mastered the knack." He was leading her inside and up the stairs. "Bed. My bed. It will make me feel less insecure."

"Bull."

"You think I'm not insecure? You tell me I have to solve your problem and then call me a monster." He opened his bedroom door and drew her inside. "It's enough to make Casanova quake. I'll have to overcome the sheer-`'

She stiffened as she saw the bed.

"It's going to be fine," Galen said quietly. "Nothing to it. Piece of cake."

"No."

"Maybe not." His grasp tightened. "But we'll get through it together. You set the pace."

"That's going to be difficult for you." She tried to smile. "You always say you like to run the show."

"In a situation like this, the woman is always in command."

"I never found that to be true."

"Because you've never been in a situation like this." He lifted her palm to his lips. "Or have you?"

She could feel heat spread from her palm up her inner arm. "I wasn't a virgin when Chavez took me. When I was sixteen, there was a man. No, he was more of a boy. I. enjoyed it."

"Bless him. Then we have something to build on." He released her hand, and his fingers went to the buttons of her shirt. "No sex since Chavez?"

"No. The guards at the prison-I broke their necks."

"Good." He undid a button. "Then I won't feel obliged to go back and do it for you."

"Why should you want to do that?"

"I'm feeling amazingly protective of you." He undid another button. "I want to fight your dragons."

She inhaled sharply as his fingers brushed against the top of her breast. "You are."

"All your dragons."

"So much for my being in control."

"You're in control." He took her hand and put it on his heart. "Feel it? You did this to me. You have power. You make me feel weak and strong and everything in between."

His heart was beating hard against her palm, sending a ripple of vibration through her. "You're being. very kind to me."