The sight of his bare skin sends a jolt through me, scattering my thoughts even further. There’s just so much of it—on his chest, on his torso, on the legs nestled against mine.

His thighs press down on me, and the contact is too much. Too confusing. I put my hands on his chest and push with all my strength. Startled, he eases back, letting go of my hands.

He sweeps his gaze over my body, taking in the black knit hat. My long-sleeve black shirt. Black joggers. My sneakers—you guessed it: black.

Not exactly the outfit you would wear if your intent was to seduce.

The realization registers on his face.

“You have exactly ten seconds to tell me what this is about, or I’m calling the police,” he growls.

My heart leaps into my throat, and my eyes dart all over the room, searching for an escape. No exit materializes, unfortunately.

He can’t call the police. But how do I stop him? I can’t even untangle the thoughts in my own head. What can I spit out that will satisfy him?

“Five seconds,” he says warningly. “Four… Three… Two…”

I have no other choice. Reaching up, I press my mouth against his. Warm, just as I remember. Soft, like I’ll never forget.

His lips go still under mine, and then he’s kissing me back, hard and desperate. My mouth parts, and that’s even better. I didn’t mean to enjoy this. I only intended to buy myself time. But he’s kissing me like he’s drowning, and I’m his one last hope for air. I might as well not have a pulse if I don’t die a little, too.

I wind my hands around his neck. His fingers go to my waist, careful to stay on top of the cotton material. Impatient, I yank up my shirt, revealing my bare stomach.

I want. I want to stay in this bed, with our limbs intertwined, for the rest of our lives. I want to kiss him until we melt like a beeswax candle. I want to have never heard of the Voice, to possess no inkling of the future, to bear no responsibility for saving the world.

But even now, the future reaches its long, shadowy fingers into the present. The images of a flailing baby, of a little girl with pigtails, float at the edge of my consciousness. Somewhere on my original timeline, she’s dying slowly, day by day. I can’t ignore that just because Bandit Sakda is a good kisser.

The best, actually. His kisses caress not just my lips but my entire body, making me feel protected, now and for the rest of time.

Which is the biggest illusion yet. If I don’t change the course of the future, then none of us is safe.

I want…but I can’t.