"We made it," he agreed. The encounter had left him rather shaken, and even in the warmth he didn't take anything off until they were in their room. Even then, he didn't let his guard down, scanning the walls and corners for any sign of surveillance. He let her sit him down and bowed his head, allowing her to stroke and massage the base of his neck. It felt nice.<i>She</i>felt nice. Despite all he had the sudden urge to throw her onto the bed and expunge his stress in a few explosive, pleasurable minutes, but he restrained himself.<br/><br/>"I think that'd be best, too. I can explain the scope of the threat. I'm the one who's most familiar with it, aside from any survivors of their assaults. I can get the reality of it to them, if they'll listen. I don't know that they will. Can they move past their distrust for Striders, do you think?"