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There are still people in the street, and atch the idiots of the a drunken dance for a few friends who are atte, unsuccessfully, to stop hi under a streetlah toto be the audience"

"So," he says then, his fingers on htly, at first And then his ar froent Finally he leans his forehead againstslows

"Come to my room with me?" He asks so softly that I’ is clear Crystal

"I… I don’t know, Reid…" Myto push hi

"I just want to kiss you, nothing hs softly "Okay, that’s entirely untrue What Imore, if it’s too soon for you Just please, letor a ca"

I nod, and he slaps a fifty on the table for what is probably a twelve dollar ticket, takes my hand and tucks it under his arm as alk across to the café exit and to the elevators

When the doors open, he sticks his head out first, glancing one way and then the other, as though we’re spies Or fugitives The hallway is deserted We dash to his roo His room key is in his hand and in ashut behind us and locking it I’ any to drink?"

I feel dry-mouthed and nervous "Water?" For a moment I feel silly; it isn’t like I’ve never made out with anyone before And then I remember that I’ht up Make yourself at ho one wall, a sitting area with a sofa and two chairs, a bar, and French doors at the south-facing balcony There are fresh cut flowers in theon the closet door I perch in the s two bottled waters fro into the corner of the sofa, leaving several inches of space between us My anxiety is building rather than decreasing, but I’ood reason I recall how comfortable I felt with Graham in my room

Don’t think about Graham

"Emma" Reid leans up to place his bottle on the coffee table, and fixes azine spread he’s done in the last two years The difference is this look is real, in person, and directed at me "Come here"

I place my bottle next to his andHe kisses me softly, one hand on e Some minutes later, he stands, pulls me up by both hands and putss around his torso and sits back down, never breaking the contact of his mouth on mine We kiss for five minutes, ten, fifteen, I have no idea When I finally break away, as breathless as if I’d run aan erratic pathway tomy lower back with one hand while the other cups the base of ertips fromy hands to lay on his chest I feel his heartbeat under hs

"Are you very sure," his lips blaze a path frorip his biceps as though I’m suspended over a sheer drop, "that you don’t want to stay?"

I have to get out of here before I surrender to soht, and hat he’s doing, stopping hiet any easier

"I can’t, Reid" My God, I couldn’t sound less convincing

"M over the bare skin of ently back on the sofa, looking down at ing to give in And then he’s kissing ain and it’s a full five minutes before we come up for air

"Reid, please Not… yet"

"I understand," he says, taking a deep breath, eyes closed He opens the" He kissese your h I’ve been at sea for a ret and relief It takes et the key card to unlock my door

I lie back on my bed and pushwhat happened when Reid and I disappeared

Meredith: You okay? Not that I’ ;)

Me: Yep Reid and I decided to stop by the cafe downstairs for a fewtoood Noon?

Meredith: Sure I’ll come to your room, cya then

Chapter 26

REID

Tiin The way she’s holding back isn’t just wariness of h that’s part and parcel She’s new to the whole rodeo Though there’s nothing about her that says I’irls want to save the--usually love, in which, as I’ve already established, I don’t believe