Melting the Ice King

ght ha

hispered against the back of her neck like temptat

dowed corners. Somewhere across the city, a bell tower chimed, but here-up here-time was suspended. Viviane Clarke leaned

rapless or drinking anything expensive. But her cousin had insisted. Come to

and a dress that fit like a sin. And tonight, she decided: no

city crawl u

for the fifth time, and she didn't check it. She watched strangers instead, couples who twirled

like her feet still remembered joy. But now

en

saw

cause he was tall or broad-shouldered. But because he was still-unnervingly

oned at the throat. Gla

ng inside her chest tightened. S

rt. It wasn't hungry.

as s

av

imi

. Looked at the crowd. A

looke

dn't

ok a b

ked tow

," he said as she stopp

e a cigarette after midnight-Ame

brow. "Neithe

ought mid-thirties, maybe. The kind of man who didn't have to t

small talk

n do

do name

the words, but the fac

irst time all night.

of si

d not a handshake. Not fo

quiet o

her finge

uctions.

t h

them spoke. Her dress whispered as she moved. His scent-s

m. She didn't need them. She cou

clutch drop

her dre

k why his eyes looked tired or why he hadn't tou

iscovery. This was

the dress slipping

et hit t

r each other at

wor

hs. Hands

led her apart like a secret-each touch reverent, d

g about him felt starved, like he hadn't al

o had taught him

s care

tangled around her knees. The window was cracked, letting in the sound of Rome wh

the bed, shirtless,

atche

se she wa

ike a man who had f

re dark and

est ro

looked at he

ike the kind of thing two ghosts might d

ached

e let

rning, he

the smell of coffee or t

beside her. A faint

hurt, but something deeper did, a muscl

the pillow. Th

sm

reg

ood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. The wh

r the suite number

ignity intact, and that wa

ld couldn't question. She pulled her hair into a sli

misse

rom her

m Matteo

l from the

back,

d for the

us

barely loud en

for letting

he elevat

opened w

epped

re the do

ow. Close.

via

na

real

fr

pposed to

t know h

ver to

hut before she c