ed in hotel-quality sheets that stil

er room, his presence lingered. In the sil

o the cool marble of the hallway, headed toward the kitchen. She didn't expect to see him already there, sleeve

up. "Cream's in the

my coffee?" she asked

sterday. Black. No hesitat

was smiling behind the mug. "

way

d the jolt that passed betwe

, mostly to distract herself f

e them the

entire building

land, sipping his own coffee

e giant di

and the room felt

where: "Tell me

linked

es

e wh

rcling the island toward her.

had a stutter un

front of her, brow

My dad used to tell me I co

rt m

hen I was

en softer:

nd familiar. "It made me hungry. For tru

epped eve

feel real

o overdrive. "You do

sound like honey sliding down

her face-slow, careful, fingers ghosting

hard it is not to to

hy don'

," he said, voice sudden

between them, so

herself, whispered: "Maybe

epped back like the air had

y n

o protect us from som

. "You're a virgin,

xactly why I'm careful. Beca

t, the energy in

rned

ng him so badly-forced herself to walk past him, mug clutched tight, ig

e doorway, she heard

irst woman who's

tu

rst I've ever want