in

ck like it was da

n the

nger. My shoes sat on the floor like strangers. And Yasmin, ever the opposite of my nerves, was

le through that clock," she

I can do this,"

strip of double-sided tape for her b

said it was just you and me,

me. And we will be b

smi

know this isn't you. But maybe that's the point. You de

lm. Her wild confidence

off the bed. "Get dressed. If we

ther with a lecture about pre-marital fertility supplements and how

after that. N

ming along as she adjusted the straps on her dress.

me. "You look gorg

l like

s the

ht underneath. We pulled up in an Uber, streetlights flickering overhead, and already the s

ace," Yasmin whisper

ile-and a well-timed tip to the doorman-and suddenly w

n saw the lights. Red strobes. Glass floors. Neon dripping like heat from the wall

de the threshold.

dancing in place. "Do n

ine,"

rt. I'll keep my phone on vibrate

ek and disappeare

y way to

ll. My dress too tig

like he already kne

soda?"

. su

. The third went down smooth, and I started

ic sank

I didn't think

y fa

shook when I imagi

Alone. In a room

wenty minu

ull-it was too much. The alcohol was already crawling through my vein

trailing behind her like glitter. She waved once before

empty glass. My skin buzzed. My legs ached. My lu

have taken t

lie I told myself about not caring. But the third?

f. I let my head fall back, let my hips roll with the rhythm. Sweat slicked my skin. I laughed at someth

didn'

Loose. Distant. Like I

now Cassia

was suddenly gone-shoved, maybe slamme

half-spinning to curse whoever ruined the vibe

an Ro

d it. One hand on the guy's collar, the other

s weren

ere mu

robably scared out of his skin-and Cassian shoved h

o. This was gravity. It was threat. It was heat curling

t come f

t come t

ecause I

-" I started, my words

t let me

ve worn a lo

at wasn't from the alcohol. And

hat to wear," I bit

My back hit the wal

're promised t

went cold

am. I wanted to lean in and see if his

n didn

peak. Like he was giving me a single, silent ch

my skin burned

" I said. Quiet

But it wa

t you're not his e

swaying around us, but we might as well have been alone.

ess and crawling back up like a hand. "You t

idn't ask

ed. "That's not ho

I don't want

ugh his nose. Like I'd said som

enly, he s

cl

head. The smell of cologne and dange

ith," he said, voice low. Controlled. B

thing to me. This man I should be afraid of. This man whos

playing

han was safe. Then his m

re dr

ou're

dn't

oth knew wha

om fear. From instinct. Because his presence

of my dress. Just barely. Just a whisper of conta

he murmured, though hi

before you

s steel. "You were about to let

"So you f

dn't

ed. "C

e that again and

imself off, jaw clenched

've walk

ve pushed

d. The air between us felt like gla

loused hand-lifted to my face. Just one

eyes. Just f

s all i

t moment, his m