o

ck came

asured.

his back t

," he wh

t was th

burning from the brush of

," Alessio said, voice a low

ck

shut me ou

his eye

tch

pa

he thought the

under the door.

come

oo

low, deliber

o the floor,

dam

him," he

i

f a

t day w

ldn't

dn't

ll rang at the bookst

lack coat walked by the w

ian asked. "You

ank

t. You ne

op

t want to

ngerous man is stalking me and I can't

through the shift.

he didn't go

wal

le

violet and the stree

e open air, Al

ead. In

he whispered

ords had

ged himself home, th

is boots. Threw

p," he tol

or caugh

ed... w

. Lips swolle

es

uzzed. Unkn

tated.

el

d a long w

bloo

ess

watchi

're

e you didn't want

did

le

n"L

rew the phone a

ng bas

as tight. His

Alessio

ed the door ag

our

her

oa

aw

one pl

oor c

lock clicked ope

o

shirt. No coat. Bare throa

the hell

Don't leave them where

t.

N

gaze raked

shakin

back

ling the

l never get he

dam

moved

really here?"

old

lls

io sm

op thinking

Noa's wrist again. B

e touch was el

t o

tarving f

hoved

his wrist. Pu

t g

ye and tell me yo

tr

ldn

th fanned hot

ar you," he whispered. "Things

ything," Noa said.

ay

brushed

shud

can fee

aped skin. Li

es nearly

uc

," Alessi

ned his

ng ca

io whispered, v

rs curled i

hate

s not

nd slid under Noa's hoodie. Ba

breath

in you," Ales

a snapped before

uth crashed

sn't

was

Tongu

arching. His body be

tter than I imagine

ed. Bit

ht his face

athed. "You're

t Noa up fro

," he whisp

sayi

etween his legs. Noa's he

ful when you fight

Alessio's mouth

burning

N

ia

med lower. S

bbed hi

to

. A rea

sio

t he

e," he sai

elf to meet tho

n if you mea

lips t

he whi

cked in Ale

" he b

back. Han

d against

d a hand thr

e. He swallowed. "I don't k

hav

can

him like he want

on't for

tur

ton

barely he

u come

wil

. Crooked. Too

t survive

ll s

reached

us

r that hoodie. I wan

l

r click

d to th

happening to me,

hone

age. Unkno

beg for

tared

t ti

swo

here Alessio h

me," he