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"I’ry His face is relaxed and easy, but he’s so good at putting on a show that could just be what he wantsyou why you have no need to be embarrassed in front of me You said ere complete opposites That you don’t care what people think So don’t start now But if you’re too nervous, just say the word, and I’ll take us back to the party Or I’ll go back to the party and leave you here to check this item off your list alone"

I s I don’t want to be alone But I’h to do this with hio first?" I ask

He stills behind me, and his jaw clenches I watch his neck work as he ss, and I wonder what he’s thinking His voice is deeper, almost hoarse, when he says, "Sure I can do that"

He pries my hands off the lock, and in a move that sends shock waves across ers before releasing the sensation that made me lash out at him with harsh words, but this time it makes me want to lash out in a different way I want to place e of his jaw and turn his face towardmy mouth to his and find out just how hot the heat between us can get

But this time I control the iic, but for every reason I think of why I shouldn’t kiss him, I think of another why I should

With a victorious "Got it," he undoes the latch and pulls theis attached to out of a divot in the ground He folds the heavy fabric back, letting it rest on another part of the fence, and gestures at the pool

"After you, my lady"

There are only a few feet of concrete between the fencing and the water, so I step in and to the left, and he follows The water is clear and still, glowing from the reflection of the moon

"Me first?" Torres asks

He’s already almost naked All he has to do is slip off that loincloth and anything he has underneath it, and he’s done Before I even give him an answer, he hooks his thu it down his hips

I gulp in air, and order myself to look away, but I can’t I just can’t Luckily, he’s wearing a pair of tight, black shorts beneath, and I’aze ahile he’s still covered I hear him lay the loincloth over the fence in front of hiain

I realize I’ the spiral to my chest, terrified to let it out of , I lean over the fence and drop the spiral onto the grass

I keep my back determinedly to Torres, but even so, I know the minute he moves away from me I can feel it

Which is absolutely absurd It’s i directly implies touch