He stood so close I could feel the heat of his chest through my blouse. His eyes didn't leave mine. The air between us felt like a live wire, humming with a frequency that made my teeth ache.
"You think you can handle the version of me that isn't patient?" he asked.
"I think you're terrified that I can," I answered.
Julian let out a low, guttural sound, something between a laugh and a groan. He reached out, his hand hovering just an inch from my jaw. He didn't touch me, but the anticipation made my skin prickle.
"You have a very high opinion of your own resilience, Lila."
"I have a high opinion of my desires. There is a difference."
"Is there? In your case, they seem to be the same thing. A hunger that ignores boundaries. A need to disrupt everything."
"Why does that scare you?"
"I
