BARBARO BREAKS HER SILENCE. Sonia Barbaro at the LA Premiere of her film Trafficked: “Too often the survivors of sexual assault are disbelieved. I’ve spoken my truth. Like my character in this film, Loretta, I won’t back down. We do not need to hide any longer.” Developing...

World Poetry Day: It’s today. And the official @FLOTUS Twitter account posted an audio clip of FLOTUS READING Diving into the Wreck by poet Adrienne Rich. Isn’t FLOTUS at a SILENT RETREAT? What gives, Adam Majors?! Please return our call.

Spotted: At the Sahadi cocktail. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews talking to FOX News’s Chris Wallace, CNN’s Dana Bash, Gloria Borger, WashPo’s Ruth Marcus, ATN’s Reginald Bounds leaving with Jazzmyn Maine, and ATN’s Natalie Savage leaving with James Harding, son of former DEPSECDEF Fred Harding. An eagle-eyed tip: Jazzmyn Maine was seen looking “disheveled and upset” hours later as she left the Jefferson Hotel in a cab.

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22

One Second for Sex

Too hot. Natalie pushed the comforter down trying to get some cool air onto her body, but it wouldn’t move. The half-asleep part of her brain told her to ignore it and keep her eyes closed. That seemed right since her body felt heavy and the bed was so soft and warm. Unusually warm. Warm like there was another body there with her.

James!

Her eyes flew open and she found herself in a room that, to the best of her knowledge, she’d never seen. The night before came flooding back. The talk with the Jazzmyn. The Chief. Two Xanax. Leaving the party with James and then...nothing. She couldn’t remember getting to his place.

Careful to avoid any sudden movements, she lifted her head slightly. Turning to assess the situation, she came eyeball to eyeball with a golden retriever.

The dog pressed his wet nose against her cheek, trying to push her back to sleep, and she had to swallow back a giggle. When she reached out to pet him, she noticed her blouse was still on. A quick inventory revealed that except for her coat and shoes she was fully dressed. Had nothing happened?

Flustered, she pushed herself into a sitting position, patted the dog, and scanned the room. There it was, at her four o’clock: one seriously handsome man asleep in a massive easy chair, shirtless. James. He could, indeed, give Ryan a run for his money in the Pectoral Olympics. He was lean and muscular with a smattering of hair at the center of his chest. She felt flushed and knew she shouldn’t stare but she couldn’t help it. Shirtless, James was sort of breathtaking. Also very far away.

What is he doing over there?