crimson devotion

against my bare skin. The room was dimly lit, the heavy

s watc

rge of saying something. But she didn't. Instead, she just stared, her

h tighten, but I

pered, "What ar

ulgent. "That you're

as something in her voice, something

y shoulder, her fingers tightening just slightly on my hi

hard, my h

se is," I

t relief. It was somethin

ost too softly. "Beca

sperate. She kissed me like she was trying to own me

I le

eded

of my mind whispered that this was m

posse

ess

ng into something beautiful... o

That

, wrapped in her sheet

fened im

fingers gripping the device too tight

he change in h

ed, her lips pr

nswering, she d

cold coile

first time, I felt it. The

ightly. "Wh

g my hair behind my ear, her touch soo

li

it imme

into her arms, kissing me deeply, making

wanted to

part of me a

were beginn

have le

lips erase the lingering doubt, let the warmt

ll had shifted so

d hesi

hesitate

houlder, feeling the tension beneath her skin. She was stil

e you going to t

It was subtle

I was forced to meet her gaze. Her eyes were dark,

arn

again." Her voice was sm

way. "I just wa

ntence. I gasped into her mouth as she pushed me onto my ba

ying to di

lmost l

e, sending a shiver through me. "You don't have to think," she whisper

n the feeling, in her-but that cold

oice steady.

gainst my sk

me back into the depths

ing wa

uldn't be able

That

to an e

arm where she had been,

ed around. The apartment was dark, but I heard

rt over my shoulders, and moved to

es grew

e

meone

ice sharper than I'd ever heard befo

he bedroom, my breath

low and smooth, but I co

inched closer. Through the dim light of the living room, I could see he

tense. A

nd of that call wasn't jus

eath, strain

her voice quieter now, b

her

tation, she added, "No. S

of dread was

talking

p back, hear

creaked

g onto mine. For a split second, her face w

s quickly, s

slipping her phone into her

y throat dry. "Who

me, her fingers grazing my cheek. Her touch was gentle,

finally said, the same w

i

way she wouldn't

. "Are you hiding

yes. "I only keep you safe," she whispered, her fingers slipping b

e, her lips slow, lingering, full of promises

ses

ess

me back toward the bedroom, I wasn't s

hing I might