ave eaten

ation? But now, seconds from walking down the ai

nds clammy. And my stomach

st walk. One foot in front

eked from behind the massi

a fainting spell. What the hell was I thinking, pro

, I nodded weakly. Sur

d. A sea of eye

sea, but definit

st marble-loud, too loud. Each clic

ich felt... wrong. This wasn't lov

e, I made the fatal m

xpression unreadable, like he

riat

ed to chuck it at his smug fa

nful step, toward the man who had k

speak, just took my hands and turned us to face t

l,

fted my chin, ignoring the way

t love, commitment, devotion-I w

ual expression? He looked like he wanted

ly-"It's time to e

nk

slipped from my fingers like

the drea

kiss yo

h.

ss. With my

ino slid an arm around my waist and pulled me cl

. And just like t

ack like not

stood there-m

ust bla

ured as he turned

followed his lead, f

was some fairytale romance inste

ace unreadable, though I caught a

utiful up there

p," I m

"Nice save wi

Meanwhile, I was still replaying The Kiss on an endless loop-no

t maybe... I was

of his lips. The way his hand had

t of it

Unfortunately, that's whe

o pass out back there," he said.

ked o

away, opened the car door, and sli

frozen

ke the thir

to sleep standing

amble

s smiles-mafia dons, their wives, political

champagne. "To t

loyalty," ano

y. Sure. Try fe

asses, taking a sip. Th

mist

-

ino's

at nothing. Her cheeks flushed, smile lazy,

pagne," she declared

" I muttered, catching

poking my chest. "I

and tossed her o

she yelled, k

happe

kidnappin

n't I just leave

till mumbling nonsense. I dro

le

huffed, rolling aro

had only a few drinks, b

grabbed

t enough before I

into my shirt. Lips

a," I

kiss

've pull

idn

lips, body arching int

ng her closer. The kiss turned hungr

way. I tore it off.

ed my name, everythi

-

ia's

the sinking realization that

want to think about, and worst of

rtl

hat si

d myself

vivid detail. The kiss.

thinking a

shut. Maybe this

finitely

ll asleep, still looking sinfu

. O

I could escape. No gu

he soreness. I crept to the door,

ou think yo

fr