Hush Hush

by Lucia Franco

Money can buy a lot of things, but it can't buy moments, and those are priceless.

"Life is a collection of moments," he reads. His voice washes over me and I lean in. "When I'm six feet under, my story will still be here because memories don't die. They'll live on."

"We're gonna get too attached," I yell at his back before he leaves the room. My voice cracks a little, but that doesn't stop him from walking away. "Too fuckin' late for that, sweetheart."

Yeah. I'm an angel with black wings born with no morals or modesty, and legs for days that spread like holy water. But at least I put them to good use.

"Sex is how you connect with another person. It's where you see their vulnerabilities and insecurities, where you want to make them forget everything but remind them you're there for them. When you're both into each other and understand each other's minds, it's a deeper connection. It's how the intimacy grows."

"Then get lost inside me and I'll take care of us. I need you to, because I'm already lost to you. I'm fucked, Aubrey. I don't know what I'm going to do, because I already know when our time is up I'm not going to be able to watch you walk away. I'm just not. I don't know what our future holds, but I do know I want you in it."

"James?" "Hmm?" My jaw trembles. "Make love to me?" "Sweetheart, I've been making love to you all along."

"I'm not changing my life for anyone." "Yes, you are. You're mine, Aubrey, no one else's," he says, yanking down my little shorts. "Just like I'm yours."

"That's what you are, though. You're a fucking whore who I just happened to fall in love with."

"If you don't leave now, I'm going to make you mine forever. It's what you want. It's what I fuckin' want, and we both know it. Last chance, sweetheart."