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I listen to her ramble; it is so unusual for her that I want to laugh. A hushed chuckle escapes me. “You are always pretty.”

“… at me and I’m blabbing like some crazy person. Why can’t … wait, what?!”

She looks at me, speechless. Her pretty pink mouth open wide and her pupils dilated. We are standing so close I can discern it even in the darkness surrounding us.

My hands slide up her hands, over her slender shoulders and pale neck, only to get lost in her wild, loose locks. Bending my head so that we are at the same level, I look her right in the eyes. They are sucking me in, like an endless whirlpool, and there is no escaping, no way for me to lie. So I do only other thing I can—I tell her the truth. “You are so damn pretty, little one.”

Then I can’t take any more of this torture so I crush my lips with hers. They are so full and soft against mine. I try to be gentle, but there is nothing gentle about the feelings she evokes in me.

She’s pure flame, and like her wild hair, she’s making me burn.

Amelia gasps in surprise, parting her lips and allowing me access. I slide my tongue into her mouth, slowing down a notch, and let my tongue meet hers and explore her mouth.

My hands are gripping her hair softly, holding her close to me. Her smell is overwhelming all of my senses. Groaning, I pull her closer into me, her body colliding with mine. Soft against the hard. I can feel her every delicious inch pressed against me.

Her hand comes between us, palms pressing against my chest. Changing the angle of our kiss, I caress her cheek and feel cool liquid under my fingers.

Slowly, like in a daze, I open my eyes and look at her. “What the …?”

Amelia’s cheeks are wet with tears. And now, when I’m not driven with my lust for her, I can feel that her hands are not gripping my shirt and pulling me closer.

No, she’s pushing me away.

Amelia

I cover my mouth with my hand to stop the sob that wants to come out so badly.

We stand there for a few seconds—or is it hours?—looking at each other. I can’t move; my feet won’t listen to me no matter how much or how loud I scream in my head for them to start moving.

I’m that shocked.

My hands are shaking, drenched in a cold sweat, and my breathing is heavy and uneven. My heart is beating so strongly I’m afraid it’ll crack my ribs. I can feel saltiness in the corner of my lips from the tears that I can’t stop from falling down.

Why am I crying?

I promised myself I wouldn’t.

I shouldn’t.

He isn’t worth it.

No boy is worth my tears.

After what feels like an eternity, my legs finally get a clue, and I wiggle out of his hands that are still on my body and start running like crazy out of the room.

The hallway is dark, but even that doesn’t slow me down. I have to get away from Derek King. As far and as fast as possible.

He kissed me.

He really kissed me.

I can still feel the pressure of his lips over mine. The texture and warmth of his mouth, and I hate myself for even thinking about it. His smell—the smell of ice—surrounds me like a cloud, reminding me of his arms moving all over my body. I can feel Goosebumps rise all over my skin, and there is a small flutter in my stomach. It makes me hate all of this even more.

“Amelia!”

I’m stomping down the stairs when I hear heavy footsteps coming from behind me. His voice calls me to come back, but I don’t turn around. I don’t stop, or even slow down. I keep moving until my feet touch the last step and I’m on the ground floor and there is light around me. It may be dim, but it’s better than darkness.

Darkness is vile. Sinister. It hides secrets and lies and it makes you believe, if only for a second, that the wrong could be right.

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