“I shook my head. She kissed my cheek, then on her way out patted Zachary's shoulder in a way that said, If you upset Aura in her weakened state, I will end you.”

“Zachary leaned in, and I thought he was going to kiss me.Instead he pressed his cheek to mine and held it there. It felt more intimate than a kiss.”

“He cut himself off and looked away, dragging a hand through his hair. "I just met her," he muttered to himself. "I'll no' say that.""Cut the crap," Megan said. "Zachary Moore, this is Aura Salvatore, and yes, she's into science even though she's pretty. Shocker. Get over it." She turned to me. "Show him how you can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

“So do you have a kilt?" Megan asked him. When I glared at her, she said, "What? He only said you couldn't ask." She looked at him. "So do you?"Straightening up, Zachary rubbed the back of his neck and smirked. "I might, I might."God, he was gorgeous. And Scottish. But maybe kind of an ass.”

“He knelt and slowly ran his hand down my arm, his lids heavy and his lips parted. “Aura . . . where can I touch you?”“Anywhere.”His hand left my arm and drifted to the rise of my hip bone. “And where can I kiss you?”I took a deep breath, long past ready for the future. “Everywhere.”

“I suppressed another shiver - I did not want Zachary taking off any more clothes on my account.”

“That reminds me." I dug into my book bag and pulled out a white cardboard box tied with a string. "I brought these back for you."He looked at the box, then at me, before slowly reaching out. "What are they?""Poisonous snakes. Open it."Zachary untied the string. "They seem like very quiet snakes.""They're stealthy. Or maybe dead.”