Mark pushed a tendril of hair from Vanessa’s face and tucked it behind her ear. Again, she felt the magnetism of his illicit touch. His fingers trailed lightly down her cheek, coming to rest on her shoulder. His other hand slid protectively around her waist as he pulled her close, like a real lover, swaying her gently, slow dancing with her under the privacy of the evening sky. At that moment, she felt like she was the only girl in the world. Nothing bad could ever happen to her. She was pretty, popular, and worthy of being in Mark’s arms. Her body begged for his touch, craved it. She wanted to taste him, run her hands over his body, claim what wasn’t hers to claim. She knew it was wrong, but she could no more leave the comfort of his arms than the sun could stop its ascent into the breaking morning sky. It was only the two of them, locked in an embrace that threatened to tear their worlds apart. Vanessa molded her body to his. Her heart raced as his hand moved lower, curving over her hip. The universe didn’t exist outside of their bubble; a bubble she wasn’t going to break.

Small towns had their secrets, and this was just one more to be kept, guarded by some unseen force. Vanessa should have known that nothing ever stayed truly hidden, buried, but in that heady moment, held tenderly in Mark’s arms, she couldn’t care less. Let the world do its worst. She knew from Maggie’s whispered confessions under the cover of darkness that she and Mark had never done it. Maggie had stated firmly that she’d never ‘fuck’ until she was married. Her parents were religious whereas Vanessa’s parents trusted her to make good choices, and swaying in Mark’s arms as he nuzzled her neck, this felt like a good but dangerous one. Her heart was cleaved down the middle. Which should she choose – loyalty or lust?

‘You want this as much as I do, Ness,’ he whispered into her ear, sending shivers along her spine. Of course she wanted it.

‘What about Maggie?’ she countered, pulling back and looking at him, their lustful gazes locked together.

‘I haven’t been happy in ages; I just didn’t know how to tell her. I’m ready to dump her, but it would be better if I had someone else to be with, to go to. It would make it easier. Are you gonna be that girl, Ness?’ He brushed her lips with his, just a whisper of a touch, but it was enough. She groaned a little, her defenses crumbling.

‘Yes,’ she whispered.

‘You’ll be mine?’

‘Yes.’

The night breeze picked up, causing goose bumps to cover Vanessa’s arms. Mark suggested that they get into the back of his van and warm up. ‘We could… talk some more.’