Fallout (Crank 3)

and I sink into him, grateful for

his warmth. “I love you.”

And I love you. His mouth covers

mine. His lips are soft, and his tongue

tastes of cinnamon. My heart rockets.

This kiss is somehow different than

all the others. It builds in intensity,

and with no one around to take

notice, I have no reason to slow

the swell. Bryce’s apple-rain scent

envelopes me. I gulp it in. Devour it.

Want to devour him. What sorceress

has possessed me, infusing every

nerve ending with intense desire?

SORCERY OR HORMONES

Something has possessed me,

and whatever it is, it stops

kissing Bryce. But only long

enough to say, “Come on.”

It leads him down the hall,

into my bedroom. I think

I should stop it. Don’t know

if I can. Don’t know if I want to.

Autumn (me?) has no control

as it invites Bryce onto my bed.

He pushes me back against

my pillow. Peels away his shirt.

Unbuttons mine. Stares down

at me with love (lust) harbored

in his eyes. Wow, he says, before