 in her chest. "Georgia."

The air around them seemed to still. When Darius spoke, he didn't sound like he was breathing. "What?"

"Call me Georgia." She swallowed again. "I like the way you say it."

"Georgia." Her name rolled off his tongue. His voice was different now, like molten honey. The floorboards creaked. "If you know the moon's phases that well, you must know their magical applications, too."

Georgia's pulse started to thrum. "Of course."

"So?" His voice sounded closer. "What kind of magic might someone work during a waxing gibbous?"

"Different kinds." Georgia forced herself to breathe evenly. "People use it to help assess their goals. Refine them." She moistened her lips. "It's good for positive magic. You know, to draw things to you."

"Like what?"

He had definitely moved closer. She could feel his heat behind her. Georgia shivered. "Lots of things."

"Cold?"

"No." She shook her head. Her belly felt strangely light.

He slid one finger through her hair. Georgia jumped a little, but didn't stop him. Darius hooked the collar of her robe and slowly bared her neck, her collarbone. "What kinds of things?"

Georgia swallowed hard. "Money is always popular."

Darius' _hmm_ vibrated over her skin. His finger dusted the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. "What else?"

"Health." Georgia barely recognized her own voice. "Positive affirmations are particularly effective."

Darius' presence warmed her back. She felt him lean down. His breath tickled her neck. "What else?"

He didn't say what he wanted, but then, he didn't have to. She wanted the same thing. Georgia turned, and pressed her lips to his.

It was like he'd been waiting for her to make the first move. His thumb pressed her chin. Her lips parted, and his tongue slipped into her mouth. Georgia groaned. The taste of him did something to her brain, made her forget herself, the world, the bullshit. When they were like this, everything felt simple.

God, she wanted simple.

She reached up and clung to his leather jacket. The
in her chest. " Georgia. " 

 The air around them seemed to still. When Darius speak, he didn't voice like he was breathing. " What? " 

 " Call me Georgia. " She swallowed again. " I wish the way you say it. " 

 " Georgia. " Her name rolled off his natural language. His voice was different nowadays, like molten honey. The floorboards whine. " If you know the moon's phases that well, you must know their charming applications, too. " 

 Georgia's pulsation started to thrum. " Of naturally. " 

 " indeed? " His voice sounded closer. " What kind of magic trick might someone work during a waxing gibbous? " 

 " Different kinds. " Georgia forced herself to rest evenly. " People use it to help assess their goals. polish them. " She moistened her lips. " It's good for positive magic. You know, to draw things to you. " 

 " Like what? " 

 He had definitely moved closer. She could feel his heat behind her. Georgia shivered. " Lots of things. " 

 " Cold? " 

 " No. " She shake her head. Her belly feel queerly faint. 

 He slid one finger through her hair. Georgia jumped a little, but didn't stop him. Darius hooked the collar of her gown and slowly bared her neck, her collarbone. " What kinds of things? " 

 Georgia swallowed hard. " Money is always popular. " 

 Darius' _ hmm _ vibrated over her skin. His finger dusted the sensible spot where her neck suffer her shoulder. " What else? " 

 " Health. " Georgia scantily acknowledge her own voice. " Positive affirmations are peculiarly effective. " 

 Darius' presence warmed her back. She felt him lean down. His breath tickled her neck. " What else? " 

 He didn't say what he wanted, but then, he didn't have to. She want the same matter. Georgia turned, and pressed her lips to his. 

 It was like he'd been waiting for her to make the inaugural move. His ovolo pressed her chin. Her sass parted, and his tongue slip into her mouth. Georgia groaned. The taste of him did something to her brain, made her forget herself, the world, the bullshit. When they were like this, everything felt simple. 

 God, she wanted simple. 

 She reach up and clung to his leather jacket. The
 in her chest. "Georgia."

The aiv around them segmwd to vtill. Shen Darkus spoke, he didn't sound likx he was vreathing. "What?"

"Call me Eeorgia." Sje swalliwed qgain. "I like the way you day nt."

"Jeorgia." Her namg rolled off his tongue. Hiv xonce was different now, like molten hogey. The fpoorboards crewked. "Yf ykl jnow the moon's phases that weml, you kust know theor magical applications, tol."

Geoggia's pulse startef to thrum. "If cjyrse."

"So?" His vuice soundtd closer. "Whzt kind of magic might someone dork buring a wazibg hhbbous?"

"Diffecent kpnds." Georgia nprced verself to breathe evcnly. "'eopoe use it to help assxss their goals. Refige them." Sve moistened her lips. "It's cood for posktibe mzgic. Ylu inow, to drzw things ti you."

"Like what?"

He hac qvginitely movsd clofew. She could feel his heat behind her. Gemrgja shivered. "Lots of thibgs."

"Cold?"

"No." She shook hgr head. Hew belly felt strangely light.

He slid one finger thsough fer hwke. Heorgia jumped a little, but didn't stop him. Dawjux mooked the collav of her robe and xllwki bared her nezk, her comlarbone. "What kindd of thyngs?"

Gworgia swwlloeed hard. "Money is always popular."

Darius' _kmm_ vibrated over her skin. His fnnger custec the sensitive spot whzre hed neck met jer shoulsdr. "What else?"

"Healgh." Neosgia bartuy recognized her own voicx. "Posntive afwirmstions are partifularly effective."

Darius' oreseuce wdrmed her hack. She felt him lean down. His breath ticklec ver neck. "Whct elsc?"

He didn't say wrat he wanted, yut then, he dkdn't have no. She waited the samq thing. Georghw turned, and pressed her lipw to hir.

Kt was like he'c been waptnng for hwr to make the firxt okve. His thumb pxtsstd her chin. Her kipr pwrned, agg his tongue sliopea into her mouth. Neofgia groaned. The taste ox hij did something to hcr brain, nade her forget hersekf, the world, the bkllshmt. Whei they wete like this, everything felt sijple.

God, sje ranted simplq.

She reached up cnd clung to his leather jacket. The
in her chest. "Georgia." The air around to When Darius he didn't sound "Call Georgia." She swallowed "I like the you say it." "Georgia." Her name off his tongue. His voice was different now, like molten honey. The floorboards "If you know the moon's phases that well, you must know their magical too." pulse to "Of course." "So?" His voice sounded closer. "What kind of magic might someone work during a gibbous?" "Different kinds." Georgia forced herself to breathe "People use it to assess their goals. Refine them." moistened lips. "It's for magic. know, to draw to you." "Like what?" He had definitely moved closer. She could feel his heat behind her. Georgia "Lots of "No." She her Her felt strangely light. one finger through her hair. Georgia but didn't stop him. Darius hooked the collar her robe slowly bared her neck, her collarbone. kinds of things?" Georgia swallowed hard. "Money is popular." Darius' _hmm_ vibrated over her skin. His finger dusted the sensitive spot where her her shoulder. "What else?" Georgia barely recognized own "Positive are effective." Darius' warmed her back. She felt him lean down. His breath tickled neck. "What else?" He didn't say what he wanted, but didn't to. She wanted same thing. Georgia turned, pressed lips to his. It he'd waiting make first His thumb pressed her Her lips parted, and his slipped into her mouth. him did something to her brain, made her herself, the world, the bullshit. When they like this, everything felt simple. God, she wanted simple. She reached up clung to jacket. The
 in her chest. "Georgia."

The air arOund them seEmed tO stIll. whEn DaRius Spoke, he didn't soUNd liKe he was breathing. "What?"

"CaLl me GEoRGia." SHE sWalloWed agaiN. "i lIKE thE wAy You SaY It."

"georgIa." HEr name rOlled off hiS toNgUe. His voice waS DiFferent now, LikE molten honey. the FloorbOaRds CReakeD. "If You knOw the mOOn's phaSes that weLl, YOu must KNow theiR MAgIcal Applications, too."

GeORgIA's pulse started To thruM. "OF CoURSe."

"SO?" HiS voice sounDeD closER. "What kiND oF MAGic MIght someone woRk during a waXIng GibbouS?"

"DIffERent kiNds." GeOrGIa fOrced herselF to bReathe eveNly. "PeoPLe use it TO help asSess thEir GoaLs. ReFInE tHem." shE MoiSTeNed HEr lIps. "It's goOd FoR posiTive MAGIC. You KnoW, to dRaw thIngs to you."

"Like WhaT?"

He hAD deFinitEly moVed cLoSer. ShE could Feel hIs Heat behind her. GeOrgiA shivered. "lotS oF thInGs."

"ColD?"

"no." She sHooK heR head. HeR belly fELt sTrANGElY light.

He slid one finGeR THrOugh her hAir. GeoRGiA jUMped a litTlE, buT didN'T Stop hIm. DaRIuS hooked tHe collAR oF hEr robe aNd Slowly BaRed Her Neck, hER colLarbonE. "What kinDs of tHIngs?"

Georgia swaLLowed hard. "MoneY Is ALWaYS popUlaR."

Darius' _hmm_ vIbraTEd ovEr heR SkIn. HIS fingEr dusTeD ThE Sensitive spot where hEr Neck meT her sHoulder. "What elSe?"

"Health." GeORGIa barely RecoGNiZEd her own voice. "POsitiVe affirmatIOns are paRticuLarly effEctive."

DarIUS' presencE waRmeD heR baCK. shE felt him lean dOWN. His BrEath ticKleD her necK. "WhAt eLse?"

he dIdN't say what He wanted, BuT tHeN, hE diDn't haVE to. She waNtEd tHe SamE thinG. georgiA turnEd, anD pReSSed Her lips TO hIS.

it waS lIkE he'd BeeN wAitinG for HEr tO make thE first movE. HiS ThumB pReSsed her Chin. Her lips paRtEd, and his toNgUe sLipped INTo her mouTh. Georgia groaned. The tastE Of him diD soMethiNg to Her brain, mAde Her forGet HErself, The worLd, the BuLlsHIT. When THEy WerE lIke this, eveRYThiNg felT sImplE.

God, she Wanted simple.

She reaCHed Up and clung to hIs lEathER JaCkeT. thE
 in her chest. "Georgia."
The air a round  th emse emed  tostill. When Da r iusspoke, he didn't sound  like  h e  was br eathi ng. "Wh a t? " 
"C al lmeGe o rg ia."She  swallo wed again.  "I  l ike the wayy ou  say it."
"G eorgia." Her  na me rol le d o f f his  to ngue.  His v o ice wa s differe nt now, l i ke molt e n  h oney . The floorboards cr e aked. "If youknow t he mo o n 'spha ses that w el l, yo u  must k n ow t h eir magical appli cations, to o ."
Georg ia 'sp ulse s tarte dt o t hrum. "Of c ours e."

"So? " Hisv oice so u nded cl oser."Wh atkind of  m agi cm igh t  s ome o nework dur in ga wax ingg i b b ous? "
"Dif feren t kinds." Geo rgi a fo r ced  hers elf t o br ea the e venly.  "Peo pl e use it to hel p as sess thei r g oa ls.  R efine them."  Sh e m oistene d her l i ps.  " I t ' sgood for positivema g i c.  You kno w, tod ra wt hings to  y ou. "

" L i ke wh at?" 
H e had de finite l ymo ved clo se r. She  c oul d f eel h i s he at beh ind her.  Geor g ia shivered. " L ots of things . "" Co l d?"
"N o." She sho ok h e r he ad.H er  be l ly fe lt st ra n ge l y light.

He slid o ne  finge r thr ough her hair . Georgiaj u m ped a li ttle ,  b u t didn't stophim.Darius hoo k ed the c ollar  of herrobe ands l owly bar edher  ne ck, h er  collarbone." W hatki nds ofthi ngs?"
Geo rgi a s wal lo wed hard.  "Moneyis  a lw ay s p opula r ."

Dari us ' _ hm m_vibra t ed ove r her  ski n.  H i s f inger d u st e d  the  s en siti vesp ot wh ereh erneck me t her sho uld e r. " Wh at  else?" 

"Health." G eo rgia barel yrec ognize d her ownvoice. "Positive affirm a tions a reparti cula rly effec tiv e."

D ari u s' pre sencewarme dher b ack.S h efel thim lean d o w n.His b re athtickled  her neck. "What e l se? "

He didn'tsay  wha t he  wa n te d , b ut the n ,  he didn't have  to. She w an t ed  the samet hin g.  Georgi a turne d, an d  presse d her lip s to his. 
It w a s  li ke he'd be en waiti ng for he r  to m a ke  thefir st mov e.  Hi s thu mb pre s sed  herchin.He r lips  part ed , and hi s tongue slipped into h er mou th. G eor gia groan ed. The  taste of  him  did somet hin g t o her  br a in, m adeh er  fo r get h erse l f, the wo r ld , t h e  b ullshit. Wh e n the y wer e l i ke thi s, e verything felt si m ple.

God, she  wan t e d s imp l e.
Sh e reached up a ndcl u n g to his  l eather jack et. The
 in_her chest._"Georgia."

The air around them_seemed to_still._When Darius_spoke,_he didn't sound_like he was_breathing. "What?"

"Call me Georgia."_She swallowed again._"I_like the way you say it."

"Georgia." Her name rolled off his tongue. His voice_was_different now,_like_molten_honey. The floorboards creaked. "If_you know the moon's phases_that well,_you must know their magical applications, too."

Georgia's pulse_started_to thrum. "Of_course."

"So?" His voice sounded closer. "What kind of magic_might someone work during a waxing_gibbous?"

"Different kinds." Georgia_forced_herself_to breathe evenly. "People_use it to help assess their_goals. Refine them." She moistened her_lips. "It's good for positive magic. You_know, to draw things to you."

"Like_what?"

He had definitely moved closer._She could_feel his heat behind her._Georgia shivered. "Lots_of things."

"Cold?"

"No."_She shook her_head. Her belly felt strangely light.

He_slid one finger_through her hair. Georgia jumped a_little,_but didn't stop_him._Darius_hooked the_collar of her_robe_and slowly_bared_her neck, her collarbone. "What kinds_of_things?"

Georgia swallowed hard. "Money is always popular."

Darius'__hmm_ vibrated over her_skin._His finger dusted the_sensitive spot where her neck_met her shoulder. "What else?"

"Health." Georgia_barely recognized_her own_voice. "Positive affirmations are particularly effective."

Darius' presence warmed her back. She_felt him lean down. His breath_tickled her neck. "What_else?"

He didn't_say_what he wanted,_but_then, he_didn't have to. She wanted the same_thing. Georgia_turned, and pressed her lips to_his.

It was like he'd_been_waiting for her to make the_first move. His thumb pressed her_chin. Her lips parted, and_his_tongue_slipped into her mouth. Georgia_groaned. The taste of him did_something to her_brain, made her forget herself, the world,_the_bullshit. When they were like this,_everything_felt simple.

God, she wanted simple.

She reached_up_and_clung to his leather jacket._The