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"I’ inwardly at the obvious, nervously spoken state

His hand curls aroundat me, like the rest of the room, no, the rest of the world, doesn’t exist, steals my breath I haven’t allowed anyone to really look atwhatever he does to turn my name into a sin that seduces rather than destroys e, but just barely

"Did you say yes to dinner because you didn’t want to be alone?"

I a ive hi alone," I say, and on some level, it really is true "I said yes to dinner because you are the one who asked" My lips curve "Actually you barely asked You mostly ordered"

"I couldn’t let you say no"

"I’lad you didn’t"

"And yet you say you like being alone?"

"It’s simple and without complication"

"Spoken like someone who’s lived the opposite side of the coin"

"Haven’t we all?"

"Who burned you, Emily?"

I blanch but recover with a quick, "Who says anyone burned me?"

"I see it in your eyes"

"Back to "

"I can’t"

Those tords sizzle, oes dry "Then stop asking sohair behindmy cheek, and suddenly he is closer, his breath a tease onon my jaw "What if I want to know more about you?"