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"You are?"

"Yes," he says "I am"

"So am I" I hesitate on what I want to say, but only for a moment "You said trust is different than control"

"It is and I fully intend to show you how"

"And trust is iain"

"Then I really need to tell you a few things"

I expect some sort of reaction, perhaps withdraw in anticipation of what I ht say, but he si"

"I know you said we’re just fucking, but--"

"Because I needed, we needed, to ‘just fuck,’ not because we’re the equation of a few random fucks Be clear, sweetheart, for my part and I am sure yours, I could have called any nuht I didn’t and that was because they aren’t you, and therefore they aren’t what I needed"

It’s everything I want to hear, and yet … "I’m confused, Shane At the office, you said we are a problein to describe ht now"

Right now Inferring that he still intends to give me up later, which makes the confession I’d been about to et hi He needs soht now Maybe he actually needs that to be me for some reason, and I want to be that soive you up right now either"

"Well then," he says "I vote we order room service and actually enjoy it this time"

"I’d like that," I say, and he lifts round in front of him, but we don’t move We stand there, the e do so at each other I know that we’ve just said we are all about right now, inferring later won’twar, I don’t understand, but I want and need

He reaches down, lacing his fingers with in to curve My lips curve too, and suddenly, we’re s on to ets to me with Shane He holds on to me like he’s afraid he’ll loseroom and I sit down on the couch Shane doesn’t i nites a sleek, glass-paneled fireplace in the far right corner "I’ll grab thecozy and safe in a way I haven’t been in a very long time He s I shouldn’t have Why I want to tell hi, but I can’t bear the idea he will hatethe hardcover menu on the table in front of ht and Ihis phone on top of the ra white oet the drinks"

I twist around to follow his progress to the bar behind h your phone"