Understandably, Justin was confused by my behavior - my random fingertips brushing his skin. Perhaps he thought I was coming onto him again, just like the night before. With apprehension I watched his eyebrows angle in frustration.

"Stop it, Katerina. That's enough." He tried to pull away from me but I kept my thumb and forefinger linked to his thick wrist, tight enough to feel his pulse. It thumped in a metered, steady rhythm but was slowly increasing. The warmth ...