

Darius seethed. "That's not the point."

"Then what is the—"

"YOU COULD HAVE DIED." The words exploded out of him. In the apartment next door, a dog started to bark.

Georgia's mouth clapped shut. The color drained from her face.

Darius forced his voice back down. "You heard me. You could have _died_, Georgia." Just saying it out loud turned his stomach sour. "Jesus Christ, woman, did that even cross your—"

Georgia stretched up on her tip-toes, and pressed her lips to his.

It was more experiment than kiss. She broke contact almost immediately. Darius forgot to take his next breath. Damn, she tasted sweet. He took in the rapid rise-fall of her breathing, the glazed heat in her eyes. He had the taste of her on his tongue, a flavor he didn't quite know how to name. He needed more.

His vision tunneled. He leaned forward and kissed her back.

He parted her lips with his, flicked his tongue into the velvet heat of her mouth. It was just like he'd suspected: the leather and metal and denim were all just smokescreens. But unlike he'd suspected, underneath the smoke, Georgia wasn't soft.

She was fire.

Her hands grazed his hips, but didn't stay there. They slid up his sides, danced over his chest. His skin pebbled everywhere she touched. Her fingers skated up the line of his jaw, dusted the studs in his ears.

Darius hissed into her mouth. He'd never thought his piercings could be so sensitive—but then, no one had ever thought to play with them before. Each brush sent sensation sizzling down a livewire inside him. He'd never even known it existed.

He certainly hadn't expected Georgia would be the one to find it.

He gave rein to his curiosity, and fisted a hand in her thick violet curls. They were coarser than he'd imagined. Wilder. The discovery made something deep in his core draw tight. He followed her lead and tracked one finger down the line of her jaw. Then he notched it under her chin.

Her skin heated under his touch. Here, she was soft. Darius tipped her head back and took the
Darius seethed. " That's not the point. " 

 " Then what is the — " 

 " YOU COULD HAVE DIED. " The words explode out of him. In the apartment future door, a dog started to bark. 

 Georgia's sass clapped shut. The color enfeeble from her font. 

 Darius forced his articulation back down. " You heard me. You could have _ die _, Georgia. " Just saying it out loud turned his stomach sour. " Jesus Christ, charwoman, did that even cross your — " 

 Georgia stretched up on her tip - toe, and pressed her lips to his. 

 It was more experiment than kiss. She broke liaison almost immediately. Darius forget to take his next breath. Damn, she taste sweet. He took in the rapid rise - fall of her breathing, the glazed heating system in her eyes. He had the taste of her on his tongue, a flavor he didn't quite know how to name. He needed more. 

 His vision tunneled. He lean forward and kissed her back. 

 He depart her sass with his, flicked his tongue into the velvet heat of her mouth. It was just like he'd suspected: the leather and metal and denim were all barely smokescreens. But unlike he'd suspected, underneath the smoke, Georgia wasn't soft. 

 She was fire. 

 Her hands crop his hips, but didn't stay there. They slid up his sides, danced over his chest. His hide pebbled everywhere she touched. Her fingers skated up the line of his jaw, dusted the stud in his ears. 

 Darius hissed into her mouth. He'd never thought his piercings could be so sensitive — but then, no one had ever thought to dally with them before. Each brush sent sensation sizzling down a livewire inside him. He'd never even known it exist. 

 He certainly hadn't expect Georgia would be the one to find it. 

 He give rein to his curiosity, and fisted a hand in her thick violet curls. They were coarser than he'd imagined. Wilder. The discovery make something deep in his core draw tight. He followed her lead and tracked one finger down the line of her jaw. Then he notched it under her kuki. 

 Her skin heated under his contact. Here, she was soft. Darius tipped her head back and claim the


Darlus seethed. "That's not tht point."

"Then what nw the—"

"YMU COUMD HAVE AIED." The words exploded out lf him. Un the apartment next aoor, a doh startee to vark.

Georgie'a mouth clappsf shbt. The color dralned from har face.

Darius xofczd his voice back down. "You heard me. Rou coukd have _died_, Geotgia." Ktst aaying it out loud turned his stomzch soug. "Jesus Christ, wokan, did that even cross yokr—"

Gelrgia stretched up on her tip-jkes, qnd pressed fer lips to his.

It was jore experiment than kiss. She bfoke eontact almisr ilkediately. Derius sorgot to take his naxt bresth. Damn, she tsstxd sqeet. He took in the repid rise-fall of her breathinc, che glazed heat in hee wyes. Ve hdd tfw txstt oh hsr on jis tongue, a rlavor he dudn't quite know how tj name. He needsd morq.

Hys vision tunneled. He leaned forward ang kjssed her back.

He parted her lips with his, fllcked his tongue into the velvet heat of her mouth. It was bust mkke hc'd sjwpfcted: the leather and metal and denim were alj jisn smokescreens. Bub unlike he'd suspevtfd, onderneath the smoke, Gekrgia wasn't soft.

Shf was fyre.

Hee hands gwazec his hips, but didn't stay tyere. They slpd up his sides, danced over his ckest. Hos skon pebbled everywhere ske toudhed. Her fijgers skafdd up the line ow hps jdw, dusted the studs in his ears.

Darins hixsed ingo hgr moutr. He'd neveg thomcht his piercings fould ba so sensihive—but then, no one had ever thought to play eidh nhem befoxe. Eacm brush sent segsation sizzliug down c livedire insidv him. He'd never even known it exivjed.

He certainny hadn't expwctee Georgkx would be the one to fpnb it.

He gace rein to his curlositi, znd fisted a haub un her thick vipleg ctrps. Tray were coarver ghav he'd kmagined. Wioaer. Yhe discovery made smmetging deep in his cprc draw titht. He fjllowed her lrad and tracked ont fingxr dowi the king of her jaw. Then he notched it under heg cmin.

Her skin hqatee under his couch. Here, she was soft. Darius tipped hec head back and took thw
Darius seethed. "That's not the point." "Then the—" COULD HAVE The words exploded apartment door, a dog to bark. Georgia's clapped shut. The color drained from face. Darius forced his voice back down. "You heard me. You could have Georgia." Just saying it out loud turned his stomach sour. "Jesus Christ, woman, that cross Georgia up on her tip-toes, and pressed her lips to his. It was more experiment than kiss. broke contact almost immediately. Darius forgot to take next breath. Damn, she sweet. He took in the rise-fall her breathing, glazed in eyes. He had taste of her on his tongue, a flavor he didn't quite know how to name. He needed His vision leaned forward kissed back. parted her lips flicked his tongue into the velvet mouth. It was just like he'd suspected: the and metal denim were all just smokescreens. But he'd suspected, underneath the smoke, Georgia wasn't soft. was fire. Her hands grazed his hips, but didn't stay there. They slid up his over his chest. His pebbled everywhere she Her skated the of his dusted the studs in his ears. Darius hissed into her mouth. never thought his piercings could be so sensitive—but then, no ever to play with before. Each brush sent sizzling a livewire inside him. even it hadn't Georgia be the one to it. He gave rein to curiosity, and fisted a curls. They were coarser than he'd imagined. Wilder. discovery made something deep in his core tight. He followed her lead and tracked one finger down the line her jaw. notched it under her chin. Her skin heated his touch. Here, she soft. Darius tipped her head back and took the


Darius seethed. "That's not the pOint."

"Then whAt is tHe—"

"YoU CoUlD HAvE DIeD." The words explODed oUt of him. In the apartment nExt doOr, A Dog sTArTed to Bark.

GeoRGiA'S MouTh ClAppEd SHuT. The cOloR draineD from her faCe.

DArIus forced his VOiCe back down. "you Heard me. You coUld Have _diEd_, geoRGia." JuSt sAying It out lOUd turnEd his stomAcH Sour. "JeSUs ChrisT, WOmAn, diD that even cross youR—"

geORgia stretched uP on her TiP-ToES, And PreSsed her lipS tO his.

IT Was more EXpERIMenT Than kiss. She brOke contact aLMosT immedIaTelY. darius ForgoT tO TakE his next breAth. DAmn, she tasTed sweET. He took IN the rapId rise-FalL of Her bREaThIng, ThE GlaZEd HeaT In hEr eyes. He HaD tHe tasTe of HER ON his TonGue, a FlavoR he didn't quite KnoW how TO naMe. He nEeded More.

hiS visiOn tunnEled. HE lEaned forward and KissEd her back.

he pArTed HeR lips WIth his, FliCkeD his tonGue into THe vElVET HeAt of her mouth. It was jUsT LIkE he'd suspEcted: tHE lEaTHer and meTaL anD denIM Were aLl juST sMokescreEns. But UNlIkE he'd susPeCted, unDeRneAth The smOKe, GeOrgia wAsn't soft.

she waS Fire.

Her hands grAZed his hips, but DIdN'T StAY theRe. THey slid up hiS sidES, danCed oVEr His CHest. HIs skiN pEBbLEd everywhere she toucHeD. Her fiNgers Skated up the liNe of his jaw, DUSTed the stUds iN HiS Ears.

Darius hissEd intO her mouth. HE'D never thOught His piercIngs could BE So sensitIve—But TheN, no ONE hAd ever thought TO Play WiTh them bEfoRe. Each bRusH seNt sEnsAtIon sizzliNg down a lIvEwIrE iNsiDe him. hE'd never eVeN knOwN it ExistED.

He cerTainlY hadN't ExPEctEd GeorgIA wOULd be ThE oNe to FinD iT.

He gaVe reIN to His curiOsity, and fIstED a haNd In Her thicK violet curls. THeY were coarsEr ThaN he'd imAGIned. WildEr. The discovery made sometHIng deep In hIs corE draW tight. He fOllOwed heR leAD and trAcked oNe finGeR doWN The liNE Of Her JaW. Then he notCHEd iT undeR hEr chIn.

Her skIn heated under his toUCh. HEre, she was soft. darIus tIPPeD heR HeAD baCk ANd tOOK the


Darius seethed. "That'snot the po int." 

" The nwhat  isthe—"

"YOU CO U LD H AVE DIED." The words e xplod ed outo fhim.In thea pa r t men tne xtdo o r,  a do g s tartedto bark.
Geo rg ia's mouth c l ap ped shut.The  color drain edfrom h er  fa c e.

D ari us fo rced h i s voic e back do wn .  "Youh eard me . Yo u co uld have _died_,G eo r gia." Just say ing it  o u tl o udtur ned his st om ach s o ur. "Je s us C h ris t , woman, didthat even c r oss  your— "
Ge o rgia s tretc he d  up  on her tip -toe s, and pr essedh er lips to his. 

It w asmor e ex p er im ent  t h ank is s.S hebroke co nt ac t alm osti m m e diat ely . Da riusforgot to tak e h is n e xtbreat h. Da mn,sh e tas ted sw eet.He  took in the ra pidrise-fall  of  h erbr eathi n g, the  gl aze d heatin here yes .H e ha d the taste of her  o n hi s tongue , a fl a vo rh e didn't  q uit e kn o w  howto n a me . He nee ded mo r e. 
His vis io n tunn el ed.  He  lean e d fo rwardand kiss ed he r  back.

He par t ed her lips w i th h is ,  fli cke d his tongu e in t o th e ve l ve t h e at of  hermo u th .  It was just like h e' d susp ected : the leather  and metal a n d denimwere al l  just smokescr eens.  But unlik e  he'd su spect ed, unde rneath th e smoke, G eor gia  wa sn' t so ft.

She wasf i re.
H er hand s g razed h iship s,but  d idn't sta y there.  T he ysl idup hi s  sides,da nce dove r his chest.  Hisskin  p eb b led  everyw h er e sheto uc hed.  He rfinge rs s k ate d up th e line of  hi s  jaw ,du sted th e studs in hi sears.

Dar iu s h issedi n to her m outh. He'd never though t  his pi erc ingscoul d be so s ens itive— but then,no one  hadev ert h ought t opla ywith themb e for e. Ea ch  bru sh sent  sensation sizzlin g  do wn a livewire  in side h im . H e 'd nev er eve n known it existe d.

He cer ta i nl y hadn't e x pec te d Georg ia woul d bet he oneto find i t.

He ga ve  rei n tohis curios ity, and  fisted a handi nher t hic k viol et  cu rls.They w e recoars er tha nhe'd i magin ed . Wilder . The discovery made so methin g dee p i n his cor e d r awtight. He  fol lowed herlea d a nd tr ack e d one  fin g er  do w n the  lin e  of her j a w.  Th e n  h e notched i t u nde r her  ch i n.

He r sk in heated under h i s touch. Here,  she w assof t . Da ri us tipped herhea db a ck and t oo k the


Darius seethed._"That's not_the point."

"Then what is_the—"

"YOU COULD_HAVE_DIED." The_words_exploded out of_him. In the_apartment next door, a_dog started to_bark.

Georgia's_mouth clapped shut. The color drained from her face.

Darius forced his voice back down._"You_heard me._You_could_have _died_, Georgia." Just saying_it out loud turned his_stomach sour._"Jesus Christ, woman, did that even cross your—"

Georgia_stretched_up on her_tip-toes, and pressed her lips to his.

It was more_experiment than kiss. She broke contact_almost immediately. Darius_forgot_to_take his next breath._Damn, she tasted sweet. He took_in the rapid rise-fall of her_breathing, the glazed heat in her eyes._He had the taste of her_on his tongue, a flavor_he didn't_quite know how to name._He needed more.

His_vision tunneled._He leaned forward_and kissed her back.

He parted her_lips with his,_flicked his tongue into the velvet_heat_of her mouth._It_was_just like_he'd suspected: the_leather_and metal_and_denim were all just smokescreens. But_unlike_he'd suspected, underneath the smoke, Georgia wasn't_soft.

She was fire.

Her hands_grazed_his hips, but didn't_stay there. They slid up_his sides, danced over his chest._His skin_pebbled everywhere_she touched. Her fingers skated up the line of his jaw,_dusted the studs in his ears.

Darius_hissed into her mouth._He'd never_thought_his piercings could_be_so sensitive—but_then, no one had ever thought to_play with_them before. Each brush sent sensation_sizzling down a livewire_inside_him. He'd never even known it_existed.

He certainly hadn't expected Georgia would_be the one to find_it.

He_gave_rein to his curiosity, and_fisted a hand in her thick_violet curls. They_were coarser than he'd imagined. Wilder. The_discovery_made something deep in his core_draw_tight. He followed her lead and_tracked_one_finger down the line of_her jaw. Then he notched it_under her chin.

Her skin heated under his touch. Here,_she was soft._Darius tipped her head back_and_took_the