"It is, Kiss." I held her gaze. "Your job demands you be in Sydney with your boss. You don't owe your family a ceremony every time your work schedule takes you somewhere. They don't need to understand the specifics. They need to understand that you have a job and that job has requirements." I paused. "That's all this is."
I seemed to have won the argument, because she didn't argue anymore. She just nodded.
I looked at her for one more moment, and then I leaned forward and kissed her.
She made a small sound against my lips and her rigid posture softened by degrees, her body leaning into mine incrementally as she kissed me back.
I pulled back after a moment. "Go. And don't stay out late."
***
KISAREL.
I stepped out of the taxi at exactly 6:58 PM. I was on a timer.
I had to see Jace t
