We were a pair, he and I, even more so than Muffy and me. Both lost in misery, only his was of his own doing and mine was thrust upon me. But misery is misery, no matter what its cause and we were both drowning in it. I had no idea why he wouldn’t go to the police. But in that moment, I knew he would never hurt me, not if he could help it. I had four days left and I didn’t want to spend it alone. In the end, it didn’t matter what his motives were. I’d be dead. The first twenty-four years of my life had been a lie; would it be so bad if the last four days were too?

I reached my hands back up to his cheeks, marveling at the contrast of his soft skin and the roughness of his beard. I slid my hands down his neck, feeling the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed, and down to his chest. The rise and fall of his breath became faster under my palms. I closed my eyes and absorbed the moment, attaching it to the scrapbook of memories.

My hands slid lower, down his sides, stopping at the waistband of his jeans. I ran my fingers up his back, feeling his muscles tense as I stepped closer, reaching higher. I stood pressed against his bare chest, my hands splayed across his upper shoulder blades, feeling the heat of his body seep into mine. I opened my eyes to look up into his questioning ones and smiled, the tiniest of smiles. If I never got more than this, I’d die happy.

My smile was the catalyst that freed Joe from his trance. His arms reached around my back, pulling me even closer as his lips found mine, hot and needing. The kisses on my front porch and the night before where nothing compared to the primal force pulling me to him now. Those had been flirtatious and fun. This was desperate and hungry.

I discovered I’d lied. I wanted more.

Joe’s hands seemed to be everywhere at once, on my back, in my hair. One hand moved to my breast and I gasped, surprised at the fire that burst within me at his touch.

That got Joe’s attention. He lifted his face and pulled my head to his chest, sucking in a deep breath and releasing it slowly. My heart hammered away, while the rest of me questioned why he stopped.

“We can’t do this, Rose,” Joe said, his heart racing in my ear.

“What? Why?”

“We need to wait.”

I didn’t even try to hide my disappointment, proof I truly had become sinful. “But I only have four days. There isn't time to wait.” The words fell out before I could censor them.

Joe wrapped his hands around my arms and jerked me backward. “That’s the second time you said that. What happens in four days?” He looked angry, far angrier than he had a right to be.

“What does it matter to you, Joe? Why do you care?” I asked, defiant. What right did he have to question me?

His face softened and his grip relaxed, but he still held my arms. “I care about you, Rose. I don't want anything to happen to you.”

It was my turn to get angry. “Yeah, I can tell by the way you’re running off to the police to clear my name.” I jerked my arms away from him, searching for Muffy. “It doesn’t matter. It will be over soon.”

He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around. “Why do you keep sayin’ that? What aren’t you tellin’ me?” he asked through gritted teeth.

I stopped to reevaluate the situation. I only had four days left and while Joe’s character was currently suspect, I somehow knew he wouldn’t hurt me. As long as I ignored the not-clearing-my-name part. I didn’t want to fight with him. I liked Joe a lot and it wasn't like I was looking for a long-term commitment here.

That made me laugh.

Joe’s eyes widened and he looked like he expected me to start strutting around the yard like a chicken. “This isn’t funny, Rose.”

“If you only knew what I knew, you’d be laughing.” I laughed a few seconds more and stopped. “Or maybe you wouldn't.”

He tried a different tactic. He pulled me close and whispered in my ear. “Why don’t you tell me and then we’ll know whether I think it’s funny or not.”

A fire spread through my body, an automatic response I couldn’t turn off even if I wanted to, which I didn’t. Let him play his games. I knew what he was doing. “Are you tryin’ to persuade me to tell you?”

His hands worked their way up my back, sending chills in their wake. “Tell me,” he whispered, kissing my neck and I shivered.

If he only knew I’d hold out all night as long as he kept doing what he was doing.

He left a trail of kisses across my cheek but avoiding contact with my lips.

I groaned in frustration.

“What happens in four days, Rose?”

If I’d been capable of laughing, I would have. He played into my hands, not the other way around.

His lips moved to my mouth, soft and tantalizing, but still holding back.

“You told me it could be better.” I said.

“What?” he whispered as he moved to my ear, biting and sucking on my earlobe.

I gasped. “The night you first kissed me, you told me it could be better. I didn’t see how. Show me how.”

“Tell me what happens in four days.”

“No, you’ll stop.” I said, my knees getting weak.

Joe paused. I’d showed my hand, as my Daddy used to say. He pulled away from me, mischievousness in his eyes. “You are wicked, aren’t you?”

“No, but I'd like to be if you’d just cooperate.”

My answer caught him by surprise and he laughed. “How do you do that?” he asked, catching his breath.