Ryder’s POV

The apartment was too small for both of us. I felt it the second I shut the door. The air was thick. Warm. Too warm. His heat filled the space like a heater on full blast.

He moved to the center of the room and stopped. His breath was uneven. His shoulders rose and fell in sharp lines. Sweat already lined his skin. His eyes were bright, not gold, but close.

Something was wrong.

His pulse thudded in his neck like it was trying to break out. His hands shook at his sides. His chest rose in fast, shallow breaths. I took one step toward him and felt...