Page 79 of The Commons

“I—” I am caught off guard. My lips open, contemplating how to respond, but I am caught up in his alluring gaze. I open my lips again to respond, but he cuts me off with his finger on my lips.

“Shh—” Pesh says. “Make me a promise. Let’s talk about us first. Let me talk. Then you can ask all the questions. Deal?”

I nod, hypnotized by his commands. I am dazzled by his regal presence. I melt in his strong gaze, then suddenly I look down, almost terrified of his effect on me, so I try to flirt with him. Key word… try. “Does the same rule of eye contact apply now with you?” I ask, head bent with a twinkle of a smile.

He reciprocates with a slight smile, then pulls my chin up with his strong hands. “It never applied with you. And it definitely doesn’t apply to the girl that I’m in love with.”

I blink, hypnotized by his confession. “You’re in love with me?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I can’t think without seeing you in my thoughts. I can’t speak without feeling you on my lips. I can’t exist without needing to know you’re okay. I can’t go on doing anything, without the impulse to help you in everything. I can’t help but respond to your endless ethical questions and detective-like demands. And no matter how much I try to stay away, I find that I can’t. I’m addicted to you, Shantavia. And I can’t let you leave without leaving with you. I won’t spend another day not having you be mine. From the moment I met you, to the moment I first kissed you, till now, I have been obsessed with entangling my life with yours, with tying your tongue into a thrilling tempest and letting it loose to swallow every secret in my soul with its sweet dominance.”

I have no words to respond, captivated by his entire soul. He pulls my waist closer. I cannot resist him even for a second. My throat is trapped in the thirst of his tongue’s tantalizing thrills, yearning to be imprisoned by his passionate affection. He does not give me a second to think before he begins to indulge in the depths of my mouth.

His tongue tightens itself around mine like a tidal wave, and it eats mine up in its tempest, leaving no tiny tip untamed to its enticing taste.

I surrender with every inch of my soul, losing every inch of independence over my lips. I am completely overpowered by his ocean of love. I am simply drowning in the depths of his passion. And just when I think I cannot surrender anymore, his mouth dives in ferociously to swallow my lips like a predator that has just caught its prey, taming and training my tongue to yield to his alluring temptation. He has absolutely no mercy in his absolute judgment of relentless passion, as though he is punishing my lips for the times spent apart all our lives.

I do not want him to stop. I am lost in his island of love. I am about to release an intense gasp when he pulls my bottom lip with a strong thrust, then instantly stops kissing me. I exhale, electrified and terrified in his passion-infused affection. My body is heated from his fiery hands holding tightly onto me.

He whispers in my ear, “Come, let me show you something!”

I release an unintentional gasp again and look down, still overwhelmed. He smiles with a satisfied beam, staring at me with his heavenly gaze. He takes my hands and swirls me to himself, locking me in his hold. He kisses the side of my forehead, then walks me toward the water.

We stop on the beach. We are both silent.

There are golden stones and marbles on the floor. The sea is alive with golden lights, like the water is glowing when it flows to the shore.

He looks in my direction as I stare at the serene scenery. “I come here every night to watch the ships,” Pesh says.

“What are they for?”

“The study abroad students.”

“I thought you said there was no such thing.”

“I did, but you figured that out, didn’t you?” Pesh responds.

“So, the ships are going to The Seventh Zone? Are we here to board or what?”

“Something like that.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“You found out the truth since you started reading that book, didn’t you? The Commons will let go of anyone uncommon who has a tendency to deviate, like your sister. They get sent to The Seventh Zone,” he says.

I’m worried, but I stay calm. “And what do they do with them in The Seventh Zone?”

“They’re forced into horrible working conditions. They even install a special Evaper on some of them that tracks their every movement, amongst other things, so they can’t escape.”

I can hardly feel my chest. I pant in shock, greatly disturbed. A thousand thoughts are crowding my brain—my sister, The Commons, where I am, who I’m with, the time of night—my mind is running wild to try and comprehend. “Oh my God, I knew it! These rules... don’t come out past 8 p.m., don’t look a Patron in the eye, don’t read a book twice, don’t use your phone alone... they weren’t meant to protect us... they were meant to protect them,” I rant.

“Yeah, quite precisely,” he says.

“Is my sister still there? Can we get to her?”

“I can’t tell you that. But you will be.”

“I will be what?” I turn to him, confused.