"You're deliberately missing the point..." Rue's voice became sly. "And it's not like you to beat around the bush, sister dear."

"You're imagining things." Standing next to the balcony's glass railings, she tried but failed to take pleasure at the panoramic view Acheron's penthouse afforded her. All she could think of was leaving, and the sooner the better.

"Are you still there, Pi?"

"Yeah, I'm here. Let's just—-" She broke off, sensing someone approach from behind, and when she turned around, it was to find Acheron coming to a stop within kissing distance, so blasted close the scent of his cologne was once again teasing her nostrils.

So close. Too close. Impossibly, painfully, agonizingly close.

"Pi?"

"Umm..." Her mind was a blank, with the heat blazing from Acheron's eyes making her feel like a cornered rabbit. She knew she should move, but she couldn't. She knew she should push him away, but she couldn't. Oh, the many things she knew she should do, but couldn't - because the truth was...

She didn't want to do any of them, Pippi realized sickly.

"Pi?"This time, Rue's voice was tinged with serious concern.

"S-Sorry." Her voice came out unnaturally shrill, with Acheron having reached for one of her hands, and oh dear Lord, his touch was scorching, like electricity running through every vein of her body. "I was just thinking of..." Her voice faltered as Acheron raised her hand to his lips.

"Thinking of what?" Rue prompted.

And now, he was slipping one finger into his mouth.

Omigodomigodomigodomigod!

Her finger!

In his mouth!

HER FINGER!

IN HIS MOUTH!

She somehow managed to find her voice. "Fin....findings."

Acheron's eyes laughed at her, but when she tried to yank her hand out of his hold, he retaliated by sucking on her finger, and her knees immediately buckled.

Bloody, bloody, bloody hell!

"Findings about what?"

Pippi found herself clutching one of the balcony posts just to stay upright, her gaze helplessly drawn to the erotic sight of her finger in his mouth.

Oh God, the way his tongue swirled, the scrape of his teeth, and the way he sucked...

"Pippi?"

"It's d-difficult to e-explain." And it was. "I'll call you again. O-Okay?" Her voice caught as Acheron sucked on her finger just a bit harder, enough to make her whole body shiver.

A moment later, she heard Rue whisper, "Oh my."

Oh no.

"I'm so going to tell everyone."

"Rue—-"

But the line was already dead, and a moment later, she, too, was dead, with Acheron lowering his head and releasing her finger so he could replace it with her mouth.