MichaelI can’t resist her. I know I should. I shouldn’t have touched her this morning. Or yesterday. But kissing Lilly is like staring at the sun or checking how sharp the tip of a knife is. You want to do it. You know it’s bad for you. But you’re inexorably drawn to it.She tastes like anger and s
LillyMichael Bonell has no idea what’s coming for him. I slick on my lipstick with a newfound sense of purpose. He wants me. And I can make him lose control. I just need to find the right buttons.As I’m pinning my short hair back, Mal calls. The camera is shaky and she’s looking away, so I get a v
“He won’t sleep with me. He has some code of honor. I don’t know. It’s stupid. Probably something to do with my brother.”“Lord, spare us from men who think they know better than we do.” She rolls her eyes and takes a healthy gulp of wine.“Exactly what I said.” I tilt my head to check that I’ve app
Jody smiles. “It’s pretty cool. I travel the world, appraising private wine collections and then importing them for sale.”“Whoa. That is cool.” And I have no frame of reference for why people would buy wine at auction, but I guess that’s something rich people do.“Do you live in New York? Isn’t tha
LillyMichael isn’t anywhere in the event space or the lobby. He’s not answering his phone, either. I hesitate by the elevators. Is he up in the room? Did he have too much to drink and decide to go to bed? That seems unlikely. It’s not even that late. We haven’t had dinner yet, and I know he’ll want
His eyes flick away guiltily.“I knew it. You can’t bury it all deep inside you and expect to feel better eventually.” I twist my arms to reach my zipper and tug it down.“You’re right.” He shoves a hand through that hair. “I’ve grieved a little. Mostly when I’m alone. What are you doing?”I step ou
He’s silent when he finishes, and my chest feels like I’m sitting at the bottom of the ocean. All that pressure is enough to make me cry. So this is why he’ll never love. The full, awful picture makes a sick kind of sense, I suppose. Michael has a huge heart. So instead of hurting someone, he’ll hur
MichaelI catch Lilly easily, even with the wine in my veins and the heaviness of my heart. She’s a decent swimmer, but I’m better. It feels good to do this again, like riding a bike. I catch her right as we near the shore and scoop her into my arms. She’s laughing and pounding at my chest as I haul