26

"Do you want to eat something else before you go to sleep?" - Athos asked, as soon as we arrived at the house, advancing through the large living room.

- No. I think I ate too many snacks.

And it was true. I was almost bursting from so many snacks and sodas.

"Then I think you'd better go to sleep." It is getting late. He gestured toward the staircase, which led to the second floor, and I hesitated.

I did not want that night to end yet, I wanted to be with him, return to his arms, relive that charm that made me feel during all the hours we were together. More than that: I wanted him, as crazy as that seemed. I just did not know how to say it to him. Connecting emotionally, or even physically, with a man was not something I was familiar with. But I wanted him too much to do nothing.

Then, hesitantly and timidly, I reached over and touched the fabric of his shirt with my trembling fingertips, lifting my face to look at him. The fervor I saw in the expression in his eyes spurred me on.

“I