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Zach looked into her eyes and saw they burned black as night In thes she’d seen and done; things that he couldn’t and didn’t want to ilanced away

"Very well I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you this week" He stood up "You’ll have my snide, churlish, cantankerous and bitter best fro vocabulary" Nora wrapped her arms around his neck Despite how much he wanted to leave them there, Zach took her arms and pulled theht can’t happen again"

"It can, and will in a few days Saturday night happens at least once a week"

"No ht We could fk all anted--"

"Perhaps I don’t want to"

Nora took a step back and Zach cursed hi her

"Zach, you had how et you off with, let’s be honest, minimal effort on my part? Don’t pretend you aren’t attracted to ether And not just because of the book"

Norahim

"You act like you’re afraid of me, Zach But you’re not afraid of me at all, are you?"

"I’uys like you You worship woile and perfect That’s why even though it was you on your back in the handcuffs Saturday night, you’re the one doing the apologizing Zach…you’re afraid of yourself"

"I’rown man to be so afraid of his own desires What happened to you? What did you do that’sis over"

"Tell me Whatever it is, I promise I’ve done worse"

"Believe me, Nora, you’ve never done this"

"It was Grace, wasn’t it? What did you do to her?"

Nora’s words pummeled into him but he couldn’t tell her to stop He knehatever pain she inflicted he deserved

"Please," he whispered

"You kno to beg That’s a good start"