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My bed is unht in the rooes Fro is the definition of intimate "You already know more than a lot of people know about "

"Mmm, I don’t think that’s true And I don’t even know the basic stuff Like, how old are you?" He leans forward in the chair, elbows on knees

"Well, that’s certainly a sti topic I’m seventeen, for another two hteen in less than three ?"

"Well, you look as though you could be younger than that, but you see; I just wasn’t sure"

"So how old are you? Twenty?"

"Yep, since June How’d you know?"

I a hier than that, very ih at the shocked look on his face, and then he growls and starts out of the chair Backing farther onto the bed, I shake"Noooo…"

"So I look like an i?" One corner of hisme

"Positively decrepit" I hold my hands out in what’s clearly simulated protection as he advances I’rabs both ofhis opposite ar me towards him In two seconds, I’m flat on my back and he’s on his knees next to h to catch it with his other hand, and he flattens my hands to the bed on either side of ht of the rooling fro and falling, aze doesn’t waver "A kiss"

Ih my mind: the sincerity of his concern when I told hi next toBrooke’s rooo None of this adds up, or makes sense, and I want to care about that, but I can’t find the will to resist--not just hi I don’t care what I want that kiss

He loosens his hold, starts to draw back because I haven’t answered

"Yes," I breathe, and he freezes

"Yes?"

"Yes"

He trails his fingers over the side ofa path, neck to waist His right hand ers as he lowers his head, and then hisoverhis shirt inout next to resses down overto the sensitive spot behindover his until we’re tangled together in the middle of the bed, his opposite shoulder under ue tracesinside I et

Too soon, he pulls away, both of us panting, sucking air as though we’ve been underwater Teasing his fingers through my hair, he pushes a strand behind my ear, and I close my eyes as he cradlesmy cheek and jaw Our heartbeats sloe lie there, hardly o" His voice is low and rough, full of what he doesn’t say

I opento protest, but no coherent words come His eyes are so dark there is no color to thehts and motivations I can’t decipher

"I’ll see you tos and hands He leans overfrolance I lie motionless except for the in and out of h my veins Almost convinced I’ve dreamed the entire interlude, I fall asleep, and do dream it Over and over

Chapter 20

REID

Walt is into a e--Ipretty hardcore for a while, getting into shit I won’t even touch And I’ve touched a lot We’re at the bar they’ll be playing tomorrow, and while I’m on my second beer, Walt has char water for a cup of tea (he brought his own Tazo)

Yeah, the half-Asian guy is having tea in the bar And I’ll be goddairls nearby