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