Chapter 6

           ***

           Christianopensthepassenger-sidedoortotheblackAudiSUV,andIclamberin.It’sabeastofacar.Hehasn’tmentionedtheoutburstofpassionthatexplodedintheelevator.ShouldI?Shouldwetalkaboutitorpretendthatitdidn’thappen?Ithardlyseemsreal,myfirstproperno-holds-barredkiss.Astimetickson,Iassignitmythical,Arthurianlegend,LostCityofAtlantisstatus.Itneverhappened,itneverexisted.PerhapsIimagineditall.No.Itouchmylips,swollenfromhiskiss.Itdefinitelyhappened.Iamachangedwoman.Iwantthismandesperately,andhewantedme.

           Iglanceathim.Christianishisusualpolite,slightlydistantself.

           Howconfusing.

           Hestartstheengineandreversesoutofhisspaceintheparkinglot.Heswitchesonthesoundsystem.Thecarinteriorisfilledwiththesweetest,mostmagicalmusicoftwowomensinging.Ohwow…allmysensesareindisarray,sothisisdoublyaffecting.Itsendsdeliciousshiversupmyspine.ChristianpullsoutontoSouthwestParkAvenue,andhedriveswitheasy,lazyconfidence.

           “Whatarewelisteningto?”

           “It’s‘TheFlowerDuet’byDelibes,fromtheoperaLakmé.Doyoulikeit?”

           “Christian,it’swonderful.”

           “Itis,isn’tit?”Hegrins,glancingatme.Andforafleetingmoment,heseemshisage:young,carefree,andheart-stoppinglybeautiful.Isthisthekeytohim?Music?Isitandlistentotheangelicvoicesteasingandseducingme.

           “CanIhearthatagain?”

           “Ofcourse.”Christianpushesabutton,andthemusiciscaressingmeoncemore.