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“I’ve told you it cannot,” he fairly heaves

But he’s looking at my mouth

I try not to be obvious about scooting closer

“Cate, our parents areI’ve worked for, everything one in a blink if I pursued this…thing between us and ere found out These affairs never stay hidden Not in politics And worse thanat reen of his eyes “Much worse, you would be dragged through theyou’re not And I wouldn’t be able to stand that”

“I don’t much care what other people think ofto te that could ruin his life “But I don’t want to hurt your career, Tristan I would never want that”

I stand up from the couch, my intention to show him out, but when I try to walk pastme in my tracks

Conflict wages a war on his face

I don’t breathe Don’t move

I should walk away, but his big hand sears my hip in the most delicious way And up close like this, I can srowth of his beard, hear his rasping inhales, exhales

Slowly, he corralshis when they’re this close to his face and he’s baring his teeth at theerous to behold Both of us struggle to breathe

Tristan leans close and presses his openhis eyes closed, and I feel his fingertips dragging up the curve of ersthe back crease of h