Lira descends gracefully onto the Saad and takes a firm hold of my outstretched hand. I bring it to my lips with a provoking smile and then press a hand to her cheek. It’s soft and sharp and as full of as many contradictions as she is. “Are you ready?” she asks. I kiss her by way of reply, surprising myself that I waited a full minute. It’s an unusual show of patience on my part. Lira grins, her teeth skimming my lips, and lets her tongue run across mine. She clutches on to the collar of my shirt and I wrap my arms around her waist. It’s like holding a story rather than a person; she feels
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