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“I did,” I say, hoping that it sounds cool and polite, not as dreaain”

As the taxi cooodbyes, but Marco leans forward to the driver “Wait forthe lady to her room”

The driver grunts and nods in response, leaving me to blink in surprise So, it’s not yet farewell after all Marco’sI’ve ever encountered before It’s hard to believe that he’s real

Like before, Marco takes my arm to lead me to the elevator and stands calmly by my side as we ride up to the correct floor I can barely think of a single word to say, andfast in my chest I want him to stay I want hi-aruide me, but to throw me on the bed, rip off my clothes…

I stare atsurface of the metal opposite, hard to make out and indistinct I can’t do it I can’t say it It’s far too forward, and I don’t have any experience in this kind of thing And Marco – I’m sure he’ll be appalled He still sees me as a kid I can’t tell him what I want

The elevator door opens ontoMarco down the corridor until I reachthe keycard and unlocking it as if it’s a very difficult task that requires all of my concentration, and then I hesitate

“So, this is iven the fact that I’ve just de it

“Have a good night, bella,” Marco tellsI’ll ask them to call your room when I arrive”

I smile “I’ll try to be ready Maybe I’ll even be down in the lobby before you get here”

“I don’t ood day Until then”

“Until then,” I breathe, unsure of what to do or say Stay, soically hear it

“Ciao, bella,” Marcoback down the corridor in the direction that we came from

I close the door and sigh against it, wondering why I couldn’t just find the courage to at least hint so But it was probably for the best

It’s late already, so I get undressed and ready for bed, cliht with e Instead, all I can think about is Marco – about the touch of his hand, and how his attention see me feel like the only person in the world

My ht have happened if I’d had the courage to invite hiht to kissainst the wall, and tearing my clothes away before the door barely has time to close He would run his hands all overkisses, and then carry me over to the bed to loom over me

My eyes are closed as I picture hi the delicate lace, which does not at all rese, and tossing the himself over me, and then…

Just as the exciteroan I have no idea what coed to ether a fantasy in my head all the way to the finish

I try to get coI hold onto as I drift away, the thought that, if I were going to have any teacher in the world to shohat I don’t knoould choose Marco in a heartbeatChapter SevenMarcoI shadeup at the hotel where I dropped Hannah off only last night I’ely because there was no point in delaying when I woke so early, tense and hard for her, thinking of all the things I could do to make her mine