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Seth moves toward me "You’ve been knocked out for allance around the roo doith so," I say "Probably the flu I feel like shit" I blink "Is Eli still gone?"

Seth’s eyes rake overmy words "Yeah, they’re still on Da Island with Preacher Maybe you’d better see a doctor, sis You’re scaring ht A doctor That’s what norive him a hard look and push away from the wall "We’re not that anymore Never will be, either I’ll just sleep it off" I throw ," he says

"Later," I o by I feel Seth’s hand onmy hair "Come on, Ri Get up Please--"

In less than a half second, I turn over and shove hirily "I fucking ain, and I feel h, and keep er crowd Seth’s young features "I’ll never leave you alone," he says with ferocity, then does exactly that and storms out of my room In seconds I hear the apartht I turn over and fall right back to sleep Or, into the pit of darkness What the fuck ever Doesn’t hts, gish heart beating, but of nothing around me Once more, I’m starkly oblivious I like it like that

I’m at a party A ball? A charity? Everyone’s in tuxes and evening gowns, ine why I’lance, I check out , for neckline Backless Slit froh Black peep-toe heels The only jewelry I wear is a garnet velvet choker with a black stone inset My hair is pulled up into a loose sort of sexy so hanks of ht and fuchsia The arnet as my dress I barely even look like th of my arms look wickedly out of place here I like that

A lides close to me I’ve no idea who he is Hell I have no idea who I am

"You came," he says excitedly

"Not yet," I say, and I check hieous all the same Tall Dark hair Dark eyes Perfectly structured face "But that could change"

He blinks in surprise, then gives me a seductive s his head, his grin widens

I shrug and accept "Lead the way"

He does, and wearound the dance floor to the music of a live orchestra Once in the middle, he slows, turns, pulls race than I credit hiins an unhurried, intiaze His brown eyes sear into , curious intensity

"You don’t knoho I aainst htest of nudges His fingers interlace with mine His whole presence exudes seduction He’s very male Very determined And very, very horny

"Not a clue," I finally answer "But you seem to knoho I am"

Brown eyes soften as he looks at me, and he smiles wide "Let’s pretend neither of us knows the other," he suggests His accent is…I can’t place it But it’s unusual, and sexy as hell "To ht nod "Why not"

The orchestra plays sonize, and my dance partner lowers his head to my ear Soft, firm lips brush the shell

"Since we don’t know one another," he whispers, "let’s go for a walk and get soht below ht," I respond "Let’s go become…acquainted, then"

Wordlessly, he slips his hand toof partiers, to a set of French double doors near the back of the hall Flanked by giant urns of green leafy ferns and ure out where I a At least, I don’t think they are I make eye contact with very few, but it’s because no one wants to look at ons I do notice that although the setting and er Mid-twenties, maybe?