The Luna Choosing Game

But his eyes were crystal focused now. Whatever fire that had sparked there had been well contained. He was pulling himself back under control, and I felt cold, mourning the loss

He didn’t apologize, thank God, but he didn’t say anything else either. No explanations. No words of comfort or cruelty

Looking at me, he swallowed hard. Then, finally, he said, “Return to your room, Piper.” His voice was still lust–rough. He cleared it but did not speak again.

He’d made it sound like an order, and not a sexy one. His words were like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head.

I opened my mouth to say something, I honestly wasn’t sure what, when he abruptly turned and all but ran from me. He disappeared into his room, the door closed and locked behind him.

I stood staring after him, trying to collect myself after everything that happened. In the end, I simply felt

abandoned.

Confused and embarrassed, I returned to my room. If Mark noticed my disheveled state of dress, he did not mention it. Good, since it was likely his fault, Nicholas had known to look for me at all. If Mark said something now, I’d likely reply with a cutting remark I didn’t mean and would regret.

The person I was truly hurt by was Nicholas, not Mark. But I was ready to lash out at just about anyone.

Except Elva.

I went to her side to check on her. She was still sleeping peacefully.

Finally, I exhaled and slunk down onto the mattress beside her. Here, in the safety of my room with the

knowledge of Elva safe and happy, I could reflect on whatever the hell had just happened between me

and Nicholas.

My body had ignited when Nicholas had touched me, and I couldn’t blame nostalgia for it this time Before, our intimacy had been shy and experimental. This had been all heat and passion, and even a little

rough. And I loved it.

I had wanted him to continue so badly, I nearly begged for it. I might have, had we gone on longer.

I was a mess.

I only went out to try to find Julian and convince him to save me during the next elimination. Instead, I ended up dry humping Nicholas against his door.

went after sur rastu and with sur years apart, he was the only

ted Ar

Kissing the font dit spare mode of me fat ke had seen just sleepwalking before placing Myself and my needs sondary to varying else out now was coming alive again

waged my own desires than yes wanted to fall into bed with Nicholas. The problem, of

sim there afterwa

wathed him for ife & dangerous, impossible

my read on dragteded to put my salleh personal desires

straight selfis

they belonged. This competition was more than ut my wants My life was more

to Eve couldn’t make selfish choices anymore I

tonight needed to

onally out

didnt know now i would ever be able to

had shown

still thinking

12 !

en before

of nie. Even after our breakup and with our

wanted

I felt like I had

to everything else, but now, I

own desires, then yes, I wanted to fall into bed with Nicholas. The

Nicholas. I wanted him

shelf where they belonged. This competition was more than just my wants. My life was more than just what I

wanted.

an obligation to Elva. I couldn’t make selfish choices anymore. I

in me tonight, needed to be locked up again.

to put him totally out of

lips, I didn’t know how I would ever be able

shown

wondered if he was still thinking of me, too.

thinking about kissing

the door separating us, I pressed my ehead against the cool wood and felt myself burn.

hips had been so aight around my waist, beckoning me into the depths of

anyone could come across us, I might have stripped her bare and taken

Julian could not. He was

her to come twice before I even thought of entering her. I’d have her on my fingers

cry my

bed with other women.

the experience.

more so than when I had touched Piper in

how to caress them so that