Devlin’s mind was a chaotic war zone, torn between two insatiable desires—one that ignited a relentless longing for Garrett every single moment, and another that cried out for separation. Like he needed breathing room. The instinct to protect himself was what led him to stay away from Garrett. He craved him—longed for his touch, his voice, the way he made everything feel tangible—but simultaneously, this fact filled him with dread. Garrett was not merely a passing moment, not an object Devlin could simply take and cast aside when the weight became too much to bear. Garrett was unwavering, relentless, a constant presence, and that terrified Devlin more than anything else. He was lost in the uncertainty of how to allow someone to remain in his life. He was not sure that he had the ability. But damn, he was at a loss for how to release Garrett from his grasp, too.