Page 254 of Bad Prince

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“Yeah.” She steps closer. “I like you. You like me. It’s not that complicated.”

God.

If only that were true.

Her hand comes up, fingers brushing the back of my neck.

Warm.

Soft.

Inviting.

“This?” she says quietly. “This could be easy.”

Easy.

Safe.

Right.

Everything Stella isn’t.

And there it is.

The comparison.

Uninvited.

Unwanted.

Constant.

I swallow.

“Isa…”

Her eyes flicker.

She hears the hesitation.

She’s not stupid.

But she doesn’t pull away.

Doesn’t retreat.

She steps in.

Closes the distance.

Her hand slides into my hair.

And then?—

She kisses me.

Not like before.

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