“Your defiant spirit,” he whispered, almost like he was sharing a secret, his timbre rough, “coupled with your beauty.” He shook his head. “It is dangerous. So very dangerous.” “For me?” I asked, wondering why I could never keep my mouth shut, because then I kept going and asked, “Or is it dangerous for you?” His wide mouth ticked up into a smile so devilish it stole my breath. Rather than frighten me, I wanted to capture that smile in my palms and hide it away for only me to ever see. “Both, sweet firebird.” His voice was a velvety, dark caress. “We might both burn for what’s to come.”
