Before I know it, Paco is pulling me by my arm and taking me into a dark room and locks the door.

I'm not scared with him. In fact, I feel safe.

But I can't be here with him.

"What the hell happened to you?" He's upset and his words are clipped.

There's a worry and anger in his eyes and I'm fighting back tears by biting my bottom lip.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me." He's serious and stubborn and I know he won't leave until I tell him.

I take a deep breath and I'm shaking slightly.

He takes a step closer and holds me, rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

I find myself relishing in his warmth and strong hands.

I feel like breaking down and I don't want to tell him.

He'll feel guilty.

"Julianna..." He lifts up my chin and forces me to look at him. "Please tell me. I want to help you. I want to be your hero."

His eyes are honest and sincere and that's what breaks me.

I break down crying and running to him, clutching his waist so tightly, I'm surprised he doesn't complain.

He holds me and listens to me.

I tell him everything, I tell him about my double life, my tattoo, my parents, what happened on Saturday and how I miss him and I want to be with him so badly but my parents are forcing me to be with someone else.

When I stopped crying and had nothing else to say, I realize it was quiet and I pull away to look at Paco.

He looked angry, confused, upset, and frustrated.

"Mamacita, I am so sorry." He whispers as he gingerly touches my faintly bruised cheek.

"Its not your fault." I say softly. I feel a bit better having told Paco what was going on.

"I'm going to find out who took those pictures."

"What?"

He stares at me. "I'm going to find the pendejo who did this to you."

It surprises me that Paco wants to help me but this isn't about him.

"You don't have to, Paco. Just forget it." I tell him.

"It's not just about you. Its about me also. I like you, Julianna. A lot and I'm not about to let some jerk ruin this, ruin us." He said it so seriously and honestly I look up quickly into his eyes.

I couldn't hold his eyes for more than 2 seconds.

They were so intense, so mesmerizing, I was forced to look away.

When I do look at him, my eyes go wide when Paco bends his head down to me. "Kiss me, cariño."

He smiles warmly and desire melts through me.

I want to hold him, to kiss him, to have him make me forget about my life.

Before I answer, his fingers cup my cheek, then trace a gentle path down to my lips.

I'm startled, I'm surprised because it's something a boyfriend would do to a girlfriend that he's crazy about and . . . and . . . and I'm melting into his touch.

I can feel his hot breath on my face, and hear an almost silent word of kiss me before he tilts my head and puts his lips on mine.

I close my eyes and try to shut out the rest of the school and just focus on trying to savor the moment.

It feels exciting and sweet. I know I should push him away, but I can't.

I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck. At the same time, he pulls me closer and without warning teases my mouth opens with little erotic licks of his tongue. I don't know where he learned to kiss like this, but it's hard not to moan into his mouth and feel something deep in my body awaken when our tongues touch.

When Paco pulls back and stares at me with so much emotion in his eyes, I can't help but kiss him again.

Paco walks me backward until I came up against the wall.

He pulls away and his eyes were liquid, his breathing slow and deep. I stood that way, suspended between him and the wall, my pulse stepping up as I became more aware of his body and the masculine scent of leather and mint lingering on his skin.

I felt my resistance start to ebb.

Suddenly, and without heeding anything but my own desire, I curled my fingers into his shirt and pulled him the rest of the way against me.

It felt so good to have him close again. I'd missed him so much, but I hadn't realized just how much until this moment.

"Don't make me regret this," I said, breathless.

I don't want to lose him. I don't want to regret the choice I'm making by being with him.

"You haven't regretted me once." He kissed me, and I answered so hungrily I thought my lips would bruise.

I pushed my fingers up through his hair, clutching him closer.

My mouth was all over his, chaotic and wild and starved. All the messy and complicated emotions I'd gone through since Saturday dropped away as I drowned myself in the crazed and compulsive need to be with him.

His hands were under my shirt, expertly sliding to the small of my back to hold me against him. I was trapped between the wall and his body, fumbling at the buttons on his shirt, my knuckles brushing solid muscle beneath.

I rucked his shirt down off his shoulders.

I didn't want to hear myself out, afraid of what I'd find on the other side. All I could think was that if Paco wanted me as much I wanted him, this would be our secret.

Paco met me halfway, pulling his arms free from the sleeves and tossing the shirt aside. I slid my hands along perfectly sculpted muscle that sent a ripple of mania through me.

I simply wanted him. Now.

He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

Rational thought had abandoned me.

All I knew was that I would do whatever it took to hang on to this unhinged high.