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“Yes.” She wanted him to feel it, this freezing-shouting-dancing-sparking elation.

His lips were cool against her skin, the same place she had found to taste him. His teeth broke the skin but didn’t hurt her at all. He took a single long drink, then lifted his head. His eyes had gone pure silver. They sparkled like a galaxy before slowly shifting back to blue.

“Leslie.”

“It’s me.”

“I know. I felt you. I felt us. I felt…”

“We really are bound together. It’s like our hearts beat in time now, or…or our souls do, or something.”

“That’s it. That’s what it is. And I saw something. I got to borrow your gift for a split second, and I saw our anniversary cake. It had those cheesy number candles on top, so Mama will definitely be there.”

“Ooh, which number?”

She latched her arms around his neck and kissed him before he could answer her. He lifted her, arms under her thighs, and she straddled his hips as he carried her back to the couch, as the record kept playing and they kept kissing. He kissed the place he had bitten, and Leslie kissed the bite she had left in turn. The mark had already turned into a silver scar, a perfect mold only her bite would fit. At last they drew apart, but Leslie knew today was the beautiful day that would proceed their first beautiful night.

“Ryker, what was the number?”

He grinned. “A two.”

She rolled her eyes, and he kissed her.

“And a five.”

“Oh, twenty-five? That’s a respectable start—”

He kissed her again, and when he pulled back his eyes held glittering mischief, shining joy. “And a zero.”