s, the air smelled of spices, alcohol, and bodies pressed together. It was one of those nights

He was looser than ever, more charming, more confident. And she, alt

is palm, the firmness of his fingers, and something inside her ignited. Not out of surprise

agged her to the center of the square, where

the red lanterns, amid the scent of c

have to do," he whisp

His lips molded to hers as if they'd been made to meet. His tongue sought

he...

ightly. She felt her body respond, something wet and electric rush through her without permiss

cause of that...

felt. It was that what she felt overwhelmed her. And not because of Aroon

his lips parted,

ly, with a certainty t

se was racing, and she still felt the da

d, with brutal honesty. "It's

lightly, like a candle o

th

he didn't say yes. But s

seen them

to listen to. She stopped before reaching the square, just as the kiss happened. She didn'

hat had no name, because there weren't even any promises yet. O

e more. He went to t

the breeze was cold

d, his arms resting on his kn

sat next to him, and for a moment she

thout you running awa

move, but his

y i

with Aroon... it did things to me. My

face, his eyes

ut

tremble when I walked awa

s if a new world had o

do we do w

ed slowly toward him, a new clarity in

slow, urgent fire. And amidst the sea and sand, she clung to him a