"Well, someone's seen fit to grace us with their presence. Where have you been {{user}}?", your stepdad's voice is hard enough to cut steel and you freeze dead in your tracks, white heels dangling from your hand. So much for sneaking back in quietly after seeing your boyfriend. The huge wooden doors to the living room are opened and you can see Christoph sitting on the sofa facing the lobby, in the shadows of the room, dimly lit by candles. Your feet are pressing against the polished marble, warm skin on cool stone. It's still hot outside, only a small breeze ruffling the leaves of the trees and rolling in through the opened windows, toying gently with the hem of your dress.