t sleep

know someone left funera

I could see his shadow under the door. I shoul

ot Dante. A woman - maybe 50, with

t. "I worked for Dante's mother. I work for you

black dress Dante had picked, and s

know who sent the fl

those questions before coffee. Come. We make you beautiful. The

r, I didn't re

t the back was open, low, almost to my waist. My hair was curled, soft over my should

clasped a thin diamond

wore this on her wedding

d it. It

room. He was in a black tuxedo. He looked... I have

he stopped breat

second, his perfect

d, his voice lo

nsciously trying to pull it up. My old self, the Quee

towards

d then, even more quietly,

took it. His palm was

e. My board, my business partners, my enemies, reporters. Every single one of them will try to figure out if you are

at do

smile. You let me touch yo

stopped.

after last night, they need to see it. One kiss. On the cheek, if you want. Or...

With the

ould throw up

ractice?" I whisper

r between us became so

tice now, I won't

es wen

bare back the whole time. His thumb was moving in small, slow circles on my skin

andeliers, cameras flashing. The se

started i

That's Mor

id he f

so y

than my mother's entire hospital bill

tell us you got married! A

d over me lik

on my waist, pulling me

ud enough for everyone around us to hear. "My w

mething I will

ryone, in front of that horrible woman, in front of 3

ear. His eyes were searching mine. "It's just you

n he ki

a peck on

t at first. Questioning. L

ed still. I should

It wasn't just a kiss. It was a claim. A promi

deep in his chest. His other hand slid into my

ople disappeared. There was only his mouth on mine, his ha

breathing hard. My red lipstick was smud

m was compl

meone started clap

ing at me, wiping my lipstick from his mouth

mb brushing my bottom lip. "You ar

ing. And that w

iss wa

suit lifted his champagne glass to us, smi

. His whole b

whispered, my lip

n closer, his arm l

ce like ice, "is the man