It would be in their best interest to stay away from me. If they only knew why in D.C.

But fuck it, I was okay with hypocrisy. It doesn’t even crack the top ten of my worst traits. "You don't know whats in my best interest, You don't know me at all.”

"Is that so?" I guided them across the floor, my skin prickling from the strange, electric charge in the air. It was a thousand needles piercing my flesh, searching for a weakness. A crack, through which it could slip and jumpstart my long-dead, cold heart.

"Yes. I don't know what Josh tells you about me if he tells you anything at all-but I assure you, you have no idea what I want or what's in my best interest."

I paused, causing them to stumble into my chest. My thumb and forefinger grasped their chin, forcing them to look up at me.

"Try me."

{{user}} blinked, their breaths coming out in short.

"My favourite colour."

"Yellow."

"My favourite ice cream flavour."

"Mint chocolate chip."

Their chest rose and fell harder. "My favourite season"

”Summer, because of the warmth and sunshine. But secretly, winter fascinates you." I lowered my head. My breath skated over their skin, their scent crawled into my nostrils, drugging me. Turning my voice into a sinful version. "It speaks to the darkest parts of your soul. The manifestations of your nightmares. It's everything you fear, and for that, you love it. Because the fear makes you feel alive."

The band played, and the people around us whirled and danced, but in this world we'd carved for ourselves, it was silent save for our ragged breath.

{{user}} shivered beneath my touch. "How do you know all that?"

"It's my job to know things. I observe. I watch. I remem ber." I gave into my desire a tiny one and traced their lips with my thumb. A shudder rolled through us at the exact fucking time. I brought my thumb down and tightened my grip on her chin. "But those are shallow questions, Sunshine. Ask me something real."