s crossed over her chest, hoodie zipped up to her chin. The wind cut through the thin cotton like it

it was dark. And she didn't have it in her tonight-p

eek black car eased to a stop in front of her, headlights dimme

an C

of cours

at her like she was something pressed betwe

hesi

said, calm, certain, like he

oodie tighter. "

neumonia when you've b

t him. "Did y

isn't." He tilted his head slightly.

need to. The truth of it alre

in, T

ay he said it-soft, d

uld've

re already curling

rs. She sat stiff, hands in her lap, trying not to notice how close he was. How his thigh br

drive off

my son treat you

She turned to the

at this is?

id. "It's a

an to. Because he's overwhelmed. Because... I thoug

has

r right away. "W

er resting casually in the space between them-close enou

looked

Dorian looked like he was reading her, mapping

omfortably. "Yo

rl who holds herself like a queen ended up kneeling f

hing deep. Somethin

rd, staring at

he key, sta

the window, watching streetlights pass in blurs. Counting intersectio

r bag s

er business card he'd

ed, leaning forward betwee

didn't notice. Not until his fing

rely there. Finge

nside her like some

fr

ove. But it didn'

inctive-and felt the way

the pen. S

r kept

f them sa

in got

h

said, her voice

rned, smooth and sure, and

d. Her heart

ing her like she was the only thing in

in, but sto

what this is,"

tle, and traced a

her lower lip. H

p?" he asked, voice

uld've

di

ose, his mouth

ured, warm breath

outh so close to his the

know what

n't ki

shed her l

n

n a

he was learning the

ng. She moved before she could change her m

trol. His hands stayed at her hips.

worse. Or bet

e pull

less.

ainted them in so

, heart thundering

r the spac

her hoodie. Sat back in the pas

't say

started

the rain had stopped

d kept his e

ed, hand on

t," he said quietl

t. And they

the door. S

t loo

him watching