Page 41 of Day Break

I looked up at him and, to my horror, another tear slipped down my cheek.

His hand moved slowly off my shoulder, and he wiped the tear away with just his fingertip.

I’d never felt my knees go weak before. Never thought it was possible that a man could cause so many different feelings inside me at the same time.

Elliott had never stoked so much as a spark in me, ever.

Lane’s eyes moved to my lips, and for a split second I let my gaze drop to his. I wondered what it would be like to brush my mouth against his. Would his lips be soft? Would he taste of coffee and apple pie?

What would his body feel like? I wanted to know. I needed to believe that physical interaction between two people could be so much more than what I’d experienced thus far in my life.

Without thinking, I lifted on my toes, my papers still held to my chest, and brushed my lips across his.

My eyes were locked on his until his closed and he slanted his mouth over mine. In that moment, when his hands returned to my shoulders, everything else dropped away.

I felt my entire world tilt.

The papers I held floated to the floor as I reached up and gripped Lane’s strong arms. My nails dug softly into his shirt as his tongue played slowly over my lips. I opened my mouth, needing to taste him.

It was as if I’d been hit with a bomb. I swayed. His arms wrapped tighter around me as we explored each other’s tongues, lips, mouths. I had never felt anything this powerful in my entire life.

For the first time, I felt alive. Really alive.

I felt his hard body press against mine, and I melted against his chest. My hands never shifted. My nails still dug into his shirt as his hands moved up. One was buried in my hair, holding my face to his. The other shifted down to my waist, pressing my body tighter against his.

I felt something jump next to my hip, something strong, hard, something that scared me ever so slightly. Memories. I tried to force them back, but it was too late.

I pushed him back, gulping for air as I doubled over. My vision grayed. I felt my fingertips tingle. My lips were still warm from his but were now numb as well.

“Easy,” I heard him say as my body lifted.

I closed my eyes more tightly, wishing he would just go away and leave me alone. I could recover if he wasn’t there. At least I kept telling myself that.

He laid me on the sofa and put a warm blanket over me.

“Breath,” Lane said softly next to my ear.

“Water,” I managed to croak out. I was incredibly embarrassed and just wanted to disappear into the soft cushions.

I heard him get up and leave the room.

I didn’t want to face him. I jerked my eyes open and, seeing that the coast was clear, I jumped up and sprinted out the back door.

I didn’t stop until I was leaning against the inside of the door to my room, breathing so heavily I doubt I would have heard if he’d called out after me.

I locked the door and crumbled to the floor.

I had made a promise to myself that there wouldn’t be any more tears. But now they flowed from my eyes, soaking the knees of my jeans and the sleeves of my shirt.

This was a mistake.

All of it.

I should go.

Thoughts of packing up my backpack flew into my mind. Then I remembered the promise that I’d made to Lane to return Sherry’s things. Everything I had was hers. I still had nothing.

I’d tossed out my old clothes. Two pairs of jeans, a jacket, some T-shirts. Even my underwear. All of the things I’d been given at the prison before I’d been released were gone. They’d been pretty much destroyed.