The Vows We Fake

I hissed, squir

a mi

ed around his neck. The scent of his cologne ,cedar and something darker, curled in my lungs like smoke. His jaw was set, unreada

Warm, minima

massaging gently. My lips parted at the feel of it, at how his touch was simultaneously careful and firm, clinical and maddeni

ng this too mu

ace goes all flushed w

. Do you collect enemies or j

ones who pretend t

d. He s

move,"

ot the bo

l. Do

binets opening, the clink of something metallic. When he returned,

said as he knelt i

der his breath, as if it m

ly, like I might shatter, made me want to cry. Not from pain,

alloused and warm. My pulse th

wear those damn hee

o have opinions

nd plan my wedding?" He wrapped the bandage slowly, his fingers grazing my calf too often to be accidental. He lingered for a second,

eyes. "I can

'll tie you t

believing laugh

zen,, breathing hard. My fingers trembled where they r

did it feel like his hands remembere

. ha

g to steady myself. Mayb

. The city spread beneath us, glittering and endless. The wind kissed my skin, sharp and cool. I leaned on the railing,

years

he sound of shattering glass. My father's voice yelling my name

er the same

verything. And I never let myself relive it. But now, standi

all com

ou not to

He was standing in the doorway, holding a small black box and s

t need

xed. "You d

ze I worked for

slow and simmering with somethin

to scold me again?

the fight. And the flashbacks. My vo

t do that." His gaze fell to my ankl

t" meant until he reached ou

n," he r

m f

t d

to my waist, guiding

the black box. "Let me guess. You keep eme

le. "Only the

shut

did. The contact was light, incidental. But it scorched through my skin like fire. He

ed... w

, softer this time. "You

icked up to mine. "Th

allo

in his hands. Then he slid the slipper on slowly, reverently, as if apol

to mine. Locked

ind my voice

on me. His eyes searched mine like he was looking for

could he not

so bad you manipulate your brain into forgetting it. I could understand

things to be this t

he wedding?" I a

n with

s time. His other hand rested lightly on my knee. We were too close. My breath hitched. He leaned in,

ed, warning and ple

s low. "Tell

rising too fast. My body was already leanin

ic

as the door

t, polished fe

t's my fiancée," he said quietly, as if it were just a

from the past. I hadn't seen her in fiv