“I suddenly realized that a bunch of my friends needed babysitters and vowed to start screening my calls.”

“A compassion swirled form nowhere in the high I was lost in. She needed me. She needed me to accept her for what she was. And when I realized that I had it within myself to give her at least this small part of me, the last of my fear melted away. ”

“I reached to push my hair out of my eyes, finding someone had tied a knot it in. My face screwed up in anger as I realized it was a HAPA knot. Real funny.”

“My blood rose, mixing with my lingering fear of the unknown to drive her to a fever pitch. Her lips touched my lower neck and vertigo spun the room, burning tracings of desire to settle deep and low in me. I exhaled into the promise of more to come, calling it to me. I breathed it in like smoke, the rising passion starting a feeling of abandonment inside. I didn’t care anymore if it was right or wrong. It just was. ”

“I wanted it, then felt guilty for wanting water when my friends were going to kill each other.”

“God, how did I get to this place where my friends sell themselves to keep me alive?”

“No,” he admitted, and my instincts sang out at his reluctance. “That’s across the hall.” Crutch swinging, I started for the door, almost pushing Quen out of my way. “Just over there, you say?” I said,”