her fingers clutching

eks had dried, but h

er and over like a haunting melody;

e hugged herself, trying to

wasn't one she ever thou

never even considered a life l

her captors-the cold laughter

refused Enzo's deal? No

Alessia stood up, se

ill there but muted, as though du

door, her resolve hard

e. I won't, she thought, sw

lit, casting eerie sha

und, unsure of

e, and she had no idea wh

est to hers. She hesitated, her

e is inside? Shaking off her doubts, she

the faint scent of colog

sly, shutting the door behind

the wall as she fumble

against the plastic, and a s

und

and the room was insta

ings, a figure emerged from the bathroom,

n

k na

ck as her eyes involuntari

ed muscles, each one looking like it

o, intricate designs that only ad

ticeable one running from his neck down to his should

heeks burned as she took in the r

hand over her eyes, her

't know- I didn't mean- I did

jumble, her voice high-pitched

fumbling as she flipped it off, pl

manded, cutting through her p

!" she stammered, her bac

I'll leave

k on," he ordered, h

l on the switch. "N-no,

becoming a low growl that s

e lights.

fingers trembling as they fl

, but she kept her back to him,

oice barely above a whisper. "I

nzo interrupted,

, her entire body tensing.

ome in here. I was just-

he said again, this ti

squeezed her eyes shut. "I can't,

the sound of his footsteps filled th

voice low and dangerous. "And I hate it

d in her chest as she

re move, didn

hirlwind of panic

xplain, her voice trembling. "I was

her, the heat of his body r

the air, every nerve i

he prompted, h

her hands clenched in

ned on her tongue, but she coul

e was clearly

once more, his voice sof

move, he took matter

ached out, gripping her shoul

motion, he turned her

her gaze immediately locked onto

y," he demanded, his dar

she struggled to find the words. He

ence finall

ured her lips with his, the suddenness o

s mouth moved against hers, his

r shoulders, pulling her closer

ith what was happening that she manag

!" she gasped, her v

unreadable, but his gr

" he said simply, his tone