Page 109 of Necessary Cruelty

Gripping his hair with my fingers, I force his head closer to mine. I kiss him softly, just because I can. “Do it.”

There is a creak of floorboards behind us, and Vin has me back on my feet about one second before Adelphine sweeps back through the thick black curtain. The knowing look on her face makes me wonder if she made the noise on purpose.

She drops half a dozen bags onto the floor next to Vin and hands him a bill to sign. Taking it back, she kisses him gently on each cheek. “Be good.”

Then she grips my hands and presses her cheek against mine in an air kiss. “Make him work for it. That boy needs a challenge.”

Blushing, I back away from her. It is weird as hell to be hugging Vin’s godmother when my panties are soaked. “I’ll do my best.”

“We’re going to be late.” Vin picks up the bags and hustles me out of the shop. I barely have time to say goodbye to Adelphine as he pushes me out the door.

As he cheerfully loads the bag in his trunk, whistling to himself, I try to figure out which part this is on the rollercoaster of our relationship. He pings so quickly from one extreme to another that I can barely keep up with him.

Then I ask myself why I’m trying so hard to figure this out. Whatever exists between us has always been beyond reason. This temporary peace doesn’t mean that anything has fundamentally changed.

I’ll enjoy the peaks, because the inevitable plunge will come in its own time.

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