THE COST OF LOVE AND PASSION

e's

ork pulsed, some flickering softly, others burning in a fierce, steady glow. It was a city that never slept, a city tha

when he mentioned Kevin. The quiet intensity in his voice. The way his fingers

breath and s

a tangled mess, caught somewhere between unea

what was happening. Now instead of me feeling proud for having self control, I

uld thi

ruly, or worse- was it me

Sophie's sketchbook from the coffee table, flipping through half-finished pages of sc

ould help. I grabbed my Airpods,

amp pavement and the lingering spices from a nearby food cart. Yellow taxi cabs streaked past in flashes of light, their reflections gl

t tighter around

me so much. That one call from Kevin Hall was enough

fia

what

id it feel so

elationship, a pseudo-fear of

that this was temporary. I need to convince myself that whatever ensu

ing into a quieter stree

o know who it was, I simply tapped

answered,

oice was smooth but ed

for a

is wea

ince when do you car

the speaker. "Since I found out Kevin Hall is

m a slow tune on his guitar. His fingers glide effortlessly o

care of myse

not th

in his voice. Someth

red- what aren't

of si

meone on my board mentioned that

ran down

g he can use. Is there anything in your past I should

y voice fading as my vocal chords produced th

Jared pr

an I intended, and I exhaled quickly, soften

ntire arrangement. Now, he also had to get the 'scru

gh

e spoke again, his voice was lower, m

way he said it mad

lowed.

, like he'd been h

ate," he sa

actually protest and go against his words. "Fine. But o

xcuse for actually doi

He res

ar

ea

ank

her

ood nigh

to three missed calls

he screen for a long moment, deba

my phone r

on instin

huckle slithered t

, Kath

e body w

ch

, a lump rapidly formed in my thro

something dark. "Now, is that any way

ing around the phone. "As long as

at?" His voice was

lse p

I snapped. "You don't get to

"See, some very interesting people have been asking about you. Offering a lot of mo

eath

vi

me yet?" The question sent shivers down my spine, my legs we

ay calm. "I swear to

e interrupted. "I have

ve been thinking- maybe it's

f such abomination had my glands produci

choice." he proclaimed

k to you," I said th

Because if you don't-I might have to te

d tilted

my temple, inhaling shar

le

ht. Ten o'clock. The

can

ill." His voice hardened. "Or

ne wen

e still pressed to my e

oo thick, the

cream. To thr

ed my eyes and

decision

ay, I was go

was glad no one witnessed t

ed tightly around the strap of my black purse. I was dressed like a typical

casting an eerie red glow

d this

ies that lurked

eath and st

ey. Low laughter rippled through the dimly lit space,

en I s

e bar, a smug grin on his face d

r, same sharp jawline. But there was somethin

e said, lifti

every muscle in my body coil

"Let's tal

t, I felt my worl