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Intelligence is critical, and I won't date someone whose politics I find egregious."
    Her hand left my knee, which I found disappointing, but a moment later she was caressing my cheek instead. Her hands were so big she could rest her palm against my cheek, caressing my cheekbones with her thumb while her fingertips were just touching my ear.
    I stared into her eyes. My heart began pounding. I just knew she was preparing to kiss me. Everything was moving so quickly, and I felt entirely swept away.
    I didn't know if I should stop her. I didn't know if I dared stop her. I realized I was a little afraid of her, but I was far, far more fascinated than afraid.
    "Your heart is pounding," she said. "Do I frighten you?"
    "You're a little intimidating," I admitted. "And a lot exciting."
    She bent her neck, and I thought she was going to kiss me, but instead she shifted and brushed her cheek with mine. She inhaled deeply, her nose near my neck. "You smell good," she said throatily.
    My heart pounded harder at her words. She straightened. "You're safe, Zoe. Am I going too fast?"
    In answer, I reached up to the back of her head and pulled. She smiled, and then a moment later, our lips met.
    She was gentle at first. Not tentative, but gentle and soft, almost as if she was judging how to treat me. But then her kiss grew firmer, more insistent.
    Hungry.
    I parted my lips, and she accepted my invitation, her tongue slipping into my mouth to explore for a moment.
    I moaned and found myself clutching at her.
    She reacted to that, and her hunger was nearly palpable.
    She was hungry for me.
    Finally she broke the kiss, and her eyes were just a little wild. Then she settled down. She smiled and brushed my lips with her thumb. I stared up at her, my thoughts scrambled beyond recognition.
    "I've thought about kissing you from the moment I first saw you," I said. Oops. I hadn't intended to sound like a stalker. Even if I was one.
    She sat back on the bench next to me, her arm still around me, but she took on a self-satisfied air. "I know."
    "Arrogant brat!" I called her. I slapped her shoulder with the back of my hand. When she chuckled at me, I wound up to hit her again.
    Instead, she caught my hand, hers moving faster than I could even see. "Don't do that," she said in a very low tone.
    I blanched. "I'm sorry," I said quickly. "Did I hurt you?"
    "No." Her grip loosened. "But I am likely to consider it permission to play rough. I don't think that's your preference."
    "No, it's not," I said. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
    She released my hand and caressed my cheek again. "No harm done. I wanted to be clear from the beginning. My family plays a little rough. You are perfectly safe with me, but if you get physical like that, then it's permission. If you ever want to say 'no' to me, use your words. If you need to chastise me, use your words. Do you understand?"
    I nodded. I didn't, not entirely, but I understood as much as she was telling me.
    We sat quietly for a few minutes before I said, "It was a really nice kiss."
    "I thought so, too?"
    "Will there be more?"
    "Yes. But there won't be more than kisses tonight."
    "What if I want more?"
    "Then I suppose you'll need to ask me out again."
    "And you'll decline, and invite me instead?"
    "Now you understand how this will work," she said with a grin. But then it faded. "I frighten you. You need to decide how you feel about that."
    "You don't frighten me," I objected.
    "Yes, I do," she countered. "It may be that your interest outweighs your fear. But I just told you I like to play rough, and I'm big enough to enforce that. You also have gotten a taste of how dominant I am."
    "You also told me you wouldn't hurt me. Did you lie?"
    "I told you if you fight me physically, you might not care for the results."
    "And if I don't fight you physically? If I fight your dominance only with words?"
    "Then I will treat you as gently as a piece of china."
    "And you don't go crazy for a few days a month?"
    She