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The look in her eyes, the sympathy, was my undoing.

She held me in her arms as I sobbed my great grief out against her.

It took hours of her comfort for me to get the whole story out, every bloody detail of it.

Fat tears were rolling down her cheeks, and I cupped her flawless face, using my thumbs to gently wipe them from her perfect alabaster skin.

I didn’t mean to take advantage of her kindness or her pity, but eventually I was kissing her neck, touching all over her body without conscious thought. It was more of an instinct than a choice. It felt natural. Wanting her was written into my DNA.

What was the point of that kind of beauty if it couldn’t be touched?

I kissed her tears, worked my way to her lips for one deep kiss before she wrenched away, turning her back on me. I hugged her back to my chest, kissing the top of her head, my hands on her taut stomach, pressing her firmly back against me. “I love you.”

“This is wrong, Domhnall. You need to stop.”

I kissed her neck, running my hands over her, pressing my body firmly against her. “How can it be wrong when it feels like this? You can’t tell me you’re indifferent. I’m not so blind.”

“You’re grieving. You’re looking for a distraction from the pain, I get it. You need comfort, but this is not the way.”

“What if I were old enough?”

“You’ll never be old enough for me.”

“What if I were an adult?”

“You’re not, so we’re not discussing it.”

I wasn’t discouraged. It was only a few more months until I came of age. And we both knew that when I did, I was coming for her.

I came back into my own body on the damp ground of The Grove. The horrifying creature was standing over me, leering.

“More?” it asked me.

I didn’t answer, but it had me too much under its spell to need permission now.

It struck again.

I went to see her at the restaurant on my eighteenth birthday. I wore my best suit, hair slicked back. I didn’t try to hide my intentions from her. That’s not the way it would be between us.

She saw me and stopped in her tracks. “It’s your birthday,” she said almost absently, smiling warmly.

I grinned. I was huge now and confident sexually. I knew precisely all the things I wanted to do to her. From our prior dealings I knew I’d be the aggressor, and I’d learned enough that I knew if I pushed the right buttons, I could take her how I’d been longing to. “Will you celebrate with me?” I asked.

She ignored the innuendo in my tone completely, running her hands through her hair. She looked as perfect as ever, but she fussed at her clothes like she wished she’d dressed better. “I didn’t notice the date. Happy Birthday.”

“Can you leave early today?” I asked her.

She gave me a certain look, like she didn’t trust me, but she was charmed nonetheless. She didn’t know the half of it.

“Sure I can. I’ll bake you a cake if you promise to behave.”

I grinned. “Only part of that is happening. It’s my birthday.” I said it like I was reminding her of a pact. “You know how old I am now.”

She watched me like she had no idea what I was about to do. It was almost innocent, though I knew she wasn’t that. She was unvarnished sin, worldly and untouched, a perfect balance between all things light and dark. Demure carnality. Seduction incarnate. She was Eve and Lilith both. Designed to inspire devotion as well as debasement.

I took her arm as we walked, and she gave me an arch look but otherwise allowed it. Her place was a few blocks away from the café.

I knew where she lived, but I’d never been inside before. It was a small but nice apartment. I explored from room to room without asking and she didn’t say anything, just trailed me slowly and watched.