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My stomach does a delicious pirouette but it dips uncomfortably when he says, "No, I haven’t talked to her about it" Another pause, and then, quieter, "Of course Perry hasn’t been over I don’t want any of thatcloser to hear better Why didn’t he tell Oliver that Perry was here banging on the door just last night?

I hear the unfae of frustration in his voice when he says, "I will I will, Oliver, shut the fk up" But then he laughs again, reh the door, and I blink, completely confused What is the story with Perry? What is this unknownwhy he wasn’t in the States, and how could he possibly threatenmy head to clear it, I realize I either need to walk out there and let him know I can hear hih unintentional secretsat least he does

I open the bedroo a hand on his shoulder He jua little in apology as if it’s o to the corner and pick up sorateful for the privacy, and then points to his wallet on the entryway table I ignore it and slip out the door, finding I’m able to really exhale for the first time once I’m closed inside the tiny elevator

Chapter FOURTEEN

ANSEL WORKS, DOING his best to carve out whatever time for me he can, while I pretend my days with him and this novelty I’ve only just discovered, called "leisure ti of the past Denial is my friend

Whatever was bothering hihted itself; he’s happier, less anxious, our sex life has beco, and neither Perry nor his late night visit ishe’s up before the sun, crashing around the tiny kitchen But instead of kissingout the door, he pulls me out of bed and shoves an apple in one hand, a tiny cup of espresso in another, and tells me that we have a shared, free day; an entire Sunday stretching clear ahead of us Thrill warent s the small flat

I bite into the fruit, smile as he packs us a picnic, and follow him back into the bedroom to watch him dress I’m mesmerized by the way he so comfortably handles his own body as he pulls on boxers and then jeans, by the way his fingers slide each button through his shirt I’m tempted to pull off his clothes just to watch hiain

He looks up atit the way I want to, I blink away, look out the , and s ulp

"Why are you ever shy with ht?"

Last night we had a lot of wine after not enough dinner and I ild, pretending to be a uard, ushering me into his flat to protectand then seduce e how such a simple question can be impossible to answer I’m shy It’s not a quality that coic isn’t why it appears with hioes away

But I knohat he’s saying; I’hts like the one earlier this week, where it’s easy to talk for hours--as if even as strangers we’ve known each other for years And then there are , and I turn away, letting the energy between us flounder

I wonder if he thinks he irl with two personalities: vixen and wallflower But before I can let the thoughts consume me, I feel the warm press of his lips to the back of irl I’ to try to iht"

If he keeps sliding his hands upat the sensitive spot just below et out of the apart et dressed but doesn’t hide his open admiration as I pull on underwear, a bra, a white tank top, and a long, lapis jersey skirt Once I’ close and cupping ertips he sweeps s to the side so he can stare more clearly into my eyes Back and forth, he searches

"You’re truly thethe corner of my mouth, he adds, "It still doesn’t feel real, does it?"

But then he smiles as if this truth--that I have only a feeeks left here--doesn’t bother him at all

How do you do it? I want to ask hi end of this ah on you?

I FEEL ADORED and cocooned in the half circle of his arm around me as we drift past his motorcycle parked on the sidewalk and head toward thewith our lunch and he swings it as he walks He hu on a leash The puppy looks up at hi as if it wants to follow hih that he chose the profession he did--law--but then didn’t do so the fun law instructor who shouts and jumps on tabletops