“We can’t keep doing this. Think of Dena and Kay. Dena has already been threatened with explosion for fighting.” Dena is in her room. Grounded for beating up a few older girls. Kay has been sent to her friends for the night. ‘Nobody hates Kay,’ I think glumly. Kay’s easy-going personality, friendl
Lionel’s POVThis is agonizing.I had only dozed off for a little while when the nightmares started. I had assumed I would be the one to have them after seeing Nan so close to death. I was wrong.My entire body is tuned to her. From her shallow breathing to the slight shaking of her frame. I could e
“It’s okay Nan. It’s alright. You did nothing wrong.” I whisper.“Lionel…”I sigh. “That’s right darling. I’m here.”But she is not reassured. Her weeping deepens. “Why…why won’t you believe me?”It’s a knife to my heart. That question…why, why why. I’d heard Nan use that tone before.I never wanted
Nan’s POVThis man…oh this man….A few little words and defenses shatter. He is the center of all my fears. And my desires…It was his voice that pulled me from the depth of my nightmare. A lifeboat out of the cold and dark. Saving my drowning soul as well as my physical body.He makes me want to fi
I lose count of the lazy kisses we exchange. I am more than content just breathing in the same air as him. Of letting our lips speak words we are not quite ready to speak.Each kiss is like tiny embers. Flaming the slow building heat in my chest. A spark.Then his hand drifts lower and lower…until t
Lionel’s POVI am not crazy.‘I’m not,’ I think insistently.It has been only days since Nan recovered. Things have changed between us again. But I am pleased with these changes.It is hard to pinpoint those differences outwardly. On the surface not much has changed. Only those really looking would
“That’s not…” I trail off with a sigh. Flex my hands at my side.“Lionel, what are you talking about?” She asks quizzically.I shake my head in defeat. “Never mind. The girls are waiting for you.”I head to my study to think. Irritated at my failure. Still without an answer to my predicament.I drop
Nan’s POVThe moment had arrived.The moment I had been dreading since I first realized that I wanted to stay. My shameful secret. I had imagined dozens of scenarios of this.All of which had played on repeat in my nightmares. I had thought the worst of it had come true at his mother’s birthday part