change。　Of　course　I　love

you—and　there's　nothing　you　can　do　about　it！〃

〃That's　all　I　needed　to　hear。〃

His　mouth　was　on　mine　then；　and　I　couldn't　fight　him。　Not　because　he　was　so

many　thousand　times

stronger　than　me；　but　because　my　will　crumbled　into　dust　the　second　our　lips

met。　This　kiss　was　not　quite

as　careful　as　others　I　remembered；　which　suited　me　just　fine。　If　I　was　going

to　rip　myself　up　further；　I

might　as　well　get　as　much　in　trade　as　possible。

So　I　kissed　him　back；　my　heart　pounding　out　a　jagged；　disjointed　rhythm　while

my　breathing　turned　to

panting　and　my　fingers　moved　greedily　to　his　face。　I　could　feel　his　marble

body　against　every　line　of　mine；

and　I　was　so　glad　he　hadn't　listened　to　me—there　was　no　pain　in　the　world

that　would　have　justified

missing　this。　His　hands　memorized　my　face；　the　same　way　mine　were　tracing　his；

and；　in　the　brief　seconds

when　his　lips　were　free；　he　whispered　my　name。

When　I　was　starting　to　get　dizzy；　he　pulled　away；　only　to　lay　his　ear　against

my　heart。

I　lay　there；　dazed；　waiting　for　my　gasping　to　slow　and　quiet。

〃By　the　way；〃　he　said　in　a　casual　tone。　〃I'm　not　leaving　you。〃

I　didn't　say　anything；　and　he　seemed　to　hear　skepticism　in　my　silence。

He　lifted　his　face　to　lock　my　gaze　in　his。　〃I'm　not　going　anywhere。　Not

without　you；〃　he　added　more

seriously。

〃I　only　left　you　in　the　first　place　because　I　wanted　you　to　have　a　chance　at　a

normal；　happy；　human　life。　I

could　see　what　I　was　doing　to　you—keeping　you　constantly　on　the　edge　of

danger；　taking　you　away

from　the　world　you　belonged　in；　risking　your　life　every　moment