The Devil You Burn For.

amp. His eyes flick to Theresa with th

?" he asks, voice cold

ke she's been caught mid-crime. "I forgot t

ot really. Just barely a

this i

ut of reflex. "Pl

d silent, and stalks toward the nightclub

u

g up against him might get them accidentally killed. We follow in his

I mutter un

ays with a shrug, like t

ore Slohovics than

blinks

say it all the time, one of my classmates in England. Total movie nerd. She

ed to Italy to be near y

t was the only way

us like stones. My lips

murmurs. "Did

eaks. Theresa flinches when she sees it. She opens her mouth,

l we?" I loop my arm throu

lub swallo

spine, and syncs to my heartbeat until I can barely tell where I end and the beat begins. The air is thick with perfume, sweat, and that electric musk o

ng, laughing, colliding. It's less a club and m

be here," Theresa says

o

er wrist and t

e, wa

ing for your Slohovic?" I

widen.

ght. Let's make it count." I forc

ery direction. It's like stepping into a sauna that breathes. My dress clin

sway. One-two, left-right. The rhythm takes over, relent

crawl into me, like something illicit and primal. My body remembers these moves like muscle memory soake

ast time I let

that once felt good. No parti

empt

ise and sweat, the ache returns. The hunger. It c

skin like static.

n my

here

e

ith that molten gold stare that pi

ears. The lights bl

fascinated. Maybe both. My pulse kicks. My thighs clench. M

y legs, up my curves, over the rhythm of my hips. Heat

wd shifts, a

voice slices throug

ed. Her forehead is shiny with sweat, a

drag her back into the rhythm. I press my hips against

eakly. "What

her back, then spin around an

er. "Elise, I need to g

the freedom. "I was jus

, I'm

r, flushed cheeks, damp temples, e

know what

The dance floor releases us with a final shove,

e," she gasps, pushing

o the bar. "I've got

of motion, but I catch

tosses a tiny plate between

e it might bite her. "I d

my thumb and finger, sprinkle it with salt, and grab m

a brow. "Is tha

y if you wan