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"Last year was a mistake It shouldn’t have happened It went too far"

"You are never satisfied until it goes too far"

"I nearly lost Wes over that night"

"Yes What was that proain he would leave you? Was that it?"

"You can’t blame him, can you? He doesn’t understand us"

"I am certain he does not" Søren reached out and caressed her cheek Those fingers, she thought Those hands Hands that knew every corner of her body as their owner knew every corner of her heart "My Eleanor…such a creature of Divine Discontent"

"Divine Discontent?"

"God’s dirty little secret He will make you suffer, little one, until He makes you wise"

"No more sermons Please," she pleaded

Søren responded with only the estion of a smile on his lips "If you won’t coive you your gift early Good thing I brought hi from his pocket and opened his hand for her A key with a delicate white ribbon in place of a key chain lay across his palm

"What is it?"

"The key to the White Roo for you"

His hand still open and waiting, Søren took a step toward her

"He’s a virgin, Eleanor," he whispered into her ear "You can close your eyes and pretend he’s Wesley"

Nora wanted to withdraanted to push Søren away Zach was out there waiting for her And she knew better than this Søren’s gifts were always double-edged swords, and there was no way to take the her that she should find Zach and get him out of here And then she reret, no shame and no fear

She took the key fro you suffer," Søren said

Nora didn’t reply Closing her fingers around the key so tightly the teeth bit fiercely into her hand, she slipped from the room and into a back hallway Nora felt Søren’s eyes on her She didn’t look back

20

Zach followed Griffin to the balcony section of the bar Leaning over the railing, they studied the show below