Chapter 25

“I can’t,” I say, but for the fact that the words never leave my throat. Jimmy drops one hand from where he was gripping my belt loop and cups the front of my pants. When he finds what he’s looking for, he squeezes. The words I’d hoped to speak are nothing more than a low groan.

He slips out from between me and the door, puts out one hand, and looks up at me. “Please?”

It’s a whole different kind of plea. There’s no pain in this one. There’s no fear. The one-word question sparks my blood and activates my reflex to swallow. I don’t bother to answer; I just take his hand and pull him back against me. His mouth is a drug, and I am already addicted.

He lets me kiss him, but too quickly pulls away and leads me toward a walkway. I move in the direction of the front door, and he pulls me to the right instead. “I’m back here. Basement apartment.”