"Bein' here with you . . . you've really got under my skin." "You want to break the rule?" He nods slowly. "Yeah." "Why?" "Because I'm tryin' to push you away when all I want to do is hold you. I know you say you don't want a hero, but damn I'd like to be that guy who'll save you from spiders and whatever and whoever else hurts you." His words seep deep into the core of my heart. With our eyes locked, I straddle him on the chair. "I want to break the rule, too." My heart pounds rapidly and I grab his shoulders so he can steady me. I'm dizzy with wanting him to love me as much as I love him. He's soaking wet and now I'm soaking and rain falls on us and around us. I don't feel hot or cold . . . I'm too caught up in being with Derek, here in the dark in the middle of the night."