, I forgot h

us. The cold that had been biting at my skin only seconds ago vanished. My body burned under

his tongue in that low, deliberate w

like it could shield me. My back hit the brick wall, rough and damp wit

away f

ged with something dangerous, the kind of expression that

night?" he murmured. "Haven't

measured to leave an impression. I hated that it had been enough to make three grown men scatter withou

" I snapped, trying to steady m

e space between us shrank, and suddenly I was pressed be

ad to ask,"

that, the year

my ear, whispering promises I was naïve enough to believe; his body pressed against mine the night everything sha

at familiar poison still bitter on my tongue. "

ul, not exactly. It was calculating like I was a puzzle he i

y. "Tired. You look like you're

t lurched, furious with itself for remembering that

none of you

quite a smile, not quite a threat. "

corched me so badly I swore I'd never let it near me again. I should have been immune by now, hard

h past him, desperate to put space between u

l. Just firm enough t

you home,"

arper than I expected

His thumb brushed my skin-an accident, ma

t safe,"

myself not to flinch. "I

adow of the boy I once loved. But it vanished as soon as it ap

didn't fade. If anything, it seemed to exp

d that dangerous softness that was worse than anger. "

e alley's darkness, his stride steady, comm

my body trembling. My wrist stil

r over me. Hated the way my body reacted without permission, the wa

ter and hurried home, one truth p

ound me tonight... it w