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I slip her into a hoodie and a pair of her sweatpants that I had brought over. I had my security guard pack a few bags for her. She isn’t leaving my fucking sight.

She allows me to dress her, and I pick her up and carry her to the bed, placing her gently on the silk sheets. She looks up at me. Not happy, not sad— just blank.

“What do you want to eat?”

She stares at me.

“Will you kiss me?”

Taken aback by her request, I furrow my brows, looking at her like she has lost her mind. She hasn’t eaten in four days, and she wants me to kiss her?

“P-please. You’ve never kissed me before… I promise to eat whatever after. Just… please..”

I look at her, begging me, in her most vulnerable moment. All she wantsis a kiss. I can do that.

* * *

Evelyn

I stare up at Dante, the man who saved me. He took care of me. Not once has he been inconsiderate. Although he did ghost me for two weeks, he is the reason I ended up there in the first place. I still cannot thank him enough.He saved you.

While I was chained to a wall, I began thinking about all the things I had never done before. After all, I thought I was dying. One of the things I realized was that I had never kissed him. It made me feel empty inside.

He crawls onto the bed next to me, and I turn onto my side to face him. He looks so perfect right now. He does look like he hasn’t slept in days, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

He tucks my hair behind my ear and lifts my chin gently.

He leans forward and gives me a gentle kiss. He tastes of mint and whiskey. He pulls back slowly, and our eyes lock. I see the desire swimming in his dark eyes. They look warmer than usual, not black, but a deep shade of brown. My eyes trail from his eyes to his mouth, and my lips part—the tension pulling us together, as if we have been deprived of each other’s touch.

“Fuck it,” he says in a low, breathy tone as he crashes his mouth to mine.

My fingers tangle in his hair as he kisses me passionately. His touch sends shivers down my spine, warming me from the inside out.He makes you feel alive. He silences the demons in your head, remember?

He caresses my hips as he deepens the kiss. He pulls himself off of me and runs his fingers through his hair, letting out a long breath.

“Thank you…” My voice comes out softly.

He rolls off the bed, and I can’t help but notice how he has to adjust himself in his pants. I give him a lazy smile, and he crosses his arms in front of his chest.

“Now tell me, what do you want to eat?”

* * *

Dante

I’m in the kitchen, making Evelyn a grilled cheese sandwich. Of all of the things, that’s what she said she wanted. I’m not complaining, though. She could have told me she wanted to eat an entire pound of chocolate, and I would have made it happen. She has to eat something.

I place her sandwich on her plate and pair it with a bowl of tomato soup. I grab her utensils and napkins, and I bring them to her in the master bedroom.

She sits on the couch, curled up in her blanket, staring out the window. I set her plate on the coffee table in front of her, and she slowly sits up.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I lean against the wall with my ankles crossed as I watch her eat. She is so perfect. I could watch her do anything all day long. I don’t know what I would have done if she had been killed. I shake the thought out. Instead, I focus on the fact that I had to force myself off of her earlier.

Who knew that a kiss could be so fucking hot. She tastes so sweet—all of her. I wanted to take her right then and there, but I know her head is still clouded. I don’t want her ever to regret anything when it comes to me. Sure, I want to fucking own her, but it would be better if sheenjoyed it as much as I do.