Page 85 of Dance with Death

A:I wouldn’t be offended if you did. Actually, I’d be offended to find out that you didn’t.

E:Take my pants off for you?

A:Yes.

Every message sends excitement rushing through every part of me.

Anya excites me.

Face to face or through secret texts on a prepaid phone. My body tingles just to know it’s her on the other end of the line. She’s fuckingeverythingto me.

I pause halfway through typing out a reply when she sends another message.

A:Do you remember the first time we kissed?

Of course, I remembered.

It was the night that Nikolai forced me to help him rape her. I’d carried her back to her room that night, took care of her, cleansed her in the shower. We both admitted that night that we felt something connecting us. I’d told her that my heart raced for her. It was true then and it’s true now, and I know that will never change.

E:Of course I remember. How could I ever forget?

A:I wanted you that night.

A:I dreamed about you that night.

A:I woke up, soaking wet between my legs and aching for you.

Jesus.

I lick my lips, running a hand across my mouth. Three texts sent from God knows where and this woman already has me half-hard.

E:I dreamed about you that night, too. I woke up hard.

A:Is that unusual for you? ;)

Did she just send me a fucking winking face?

Jesus Christ.

That’s adorable.

E:Not unusual since I met you. Did you touch yourself? After dreaming about me?

A:I wanted to.

E:But you didn’t?

A:It was the first time in three years I felt like I wanted to be touched. I just wasn’t ready that night.

E:But two days later in Nobility Hall…

We dry fucked like two horny teenagers, I want to write, but I don’t.

A:I was ready for it then. I felt safe with you.

E:That means everything to me.

A:That I felt safe with you?

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