Page 49 of Ruling Scar

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This is not the slow and delicate brush of our lips like last time.

It’s hard and demanding. He bites down on my bottom lip, eliciting a gasp, and when my lips part he claims my mouth. Breathless, I let go, leaning into him. Letting him control my mouth.

I think it’ll go on forever. I want it to go on forever. Instead, he pulls away, his fingers still curled in my hair.

“Did you throw away the flowers?” he asks.

I nod. “Uh huh.”

“Carnations, Leonora?” He sounds disappointed in me.

“Out of curiosity, what kind of flowers would you send me?”

A teasing smirk lights his face. “Be a good girl and maybe you’ll find out.”

Oh.

“I have to go to work.” Though if I’m honest, everything’s faded. The people and the building.

“You and this damn job.” He brushes my hair back. “You wore it down today.”

I wasn’t in the mood to follow an elaborate YouTube tutorial this morning.

“Put it in a ponytail.”

“What?”

“Do it.” His voice leaves little room for argument, but I frown.

“Why?”

“Leonora.”

“I don’t have a ponytail.”

His jaw clenches.

“I have to go back.” Mostly so I can hide in my office and find some equilibrium. “I’m going to go now.”

“Leonora,” he says again, a hint of warning in his tone.

I think I know what he wants so I turn back and lift on my toes. I kiss him. Before he can grab me, I hightail it back to the elevators.

The entire ride up, my hand covers my lips. The thought of kissing always made me nervous.

I’m the girl with little to no experience but it was too easy kissing Elijah.

When I get to my desk, I find a stray scrunchie and pull my hair into a high ponytail. Maybe it’s because I’m just not in the mood to work, but I lift my phone. It takes several tries before I find a good angle and I almost talk myself out of it, but eventually, I send the selfie off.

Lennie: Ponytail secured.

Pen Pal: Beautiful.

I bite down on my lip. One word and I’m blushing like a fool.

Tuning out the humdrum of the office, I find an article and send it off to him.

Lennie: Article - 100 Cute Nicknames to Call Your Partner

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