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“Mm, good. Spinning, but good.”

“Do you need to sit?”

“Maybe just a break.”

“Come on.” As much as it pained me to do it, I pulled away and took her hand before leading her through the crowded club.

The pounding music swallowed the patrons whole as we slipped free from it to a darkened, private corner where light barely touched.

She stumbled, laughing and breathless from dancing.

She leaned against the wall and gave me a dazed smile.

I couldn’t stop myself.

I moved to stand in front of her and tucked a curl behind her ear. This corner was quieter. Private. She stared up at me, her lips parted and pretty green eyes glassy, and I swear the entire world went silent.

I slid my hand along her hip as I closed the space between us. I felt her warmth through the thin fabric of her purple dress.

She didn’t stop me when I pressed her further against the wall.

She didn’t stop me even when I leaned in close enough to breathe in her sweet scent.

My heart pounded hard.

“Tell me to stop,” I murmured into her ear.

She remained wordless.

I took the leap and kissed her neck. Just once. A breath of my lips across the delicate flesh beneath her ear. Her breath hitched. She stilled before her body trembled beneath my hand.

I reached out with my other hand and cradled her face.

God, the way she trembled for me…

I slid my hand up her hip, to her waist, her ribs, her back, learning every inch of her in my drunken stupor.

Her head fell back against the wall, and I watched her let loose a shaky breath.

“I feel you, LeeLee,” I whispered. “Every second I’m near you, I feel like I’m losing my mind. And I know you feel it too. I’m not asking for forever. I’m asking for right now. Just for you to feel this moment with me. To experience what it could be like. Let go for just a breath with me. Let me prove to you that this moment and every moment after is worth it.”

Her eyelids fluttered, her eyes glassy and guilt-ridden. Her hands moved to my chest.

“Don’t,” she choked out.

I stilled, my heart in my throat. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

I leaned in until our foreheads touched. “Then stop pretending like this isn’t killing you, too. That loving me as much as I love you isn’t shredding your heart with every breath you take. That the ache isn’t real.”

She made a noise, half sob, half laugh. “You think this is easy for me? You think I haven’t thought about all the moments, Ani? Dreamed about them? Of you?”

I brushed my thumb against the hollow of her throat. Her pulse was wild beneath my touch.

“Then kiss me,” I said, breathless and desperate. “If it’s real, if anything you feel is real, kiss me. To hell with everything else.”

Her lips parted like she was going to, but her eyes closed instead. A tear slipped down her cheek.