You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Harper

"But I didn't fuck her, baby,"

Easton says, his hand moving to my face.

“I didn’t touch her at all.” I want to push him away, but the sound of his voice is what I cling to.

The softness, the rawness, the truth I see in his eyes.

"I couldn't do it,"

he continues.

"I got to her house, I told her how much you mean to me, and that I'm willing to take whatever punishment comes my way but to leave you out of it.” The ache in my stomach turns to something else.

Relief? Tingles? There's so much emotion running through me, I'm not sure I can differentiate my feelings anymore.

But I know I need to hear something again, I need to hear it over and over until it sinks in.

"You really didn't have sex with her?"

He shakes his head.

"No, baby."

His other hand joins my face.

“I didn’t kiss her, I didn’t touch her—nothing happened between us."

His stare deepens.

"I care about you, Harper, more than you think I do.” I fall against his chest and his arms wrap around me, his scent, his warmth, his breath—all giving me so much comfort.

This morning, I didn't know if I'd be here again with him and now I can't imagine being anywhere else.

My eyes close and after a few seconds I ask, “How are we going to get out of this mess?"

“It's my mess, not yours."

I squeeze him tighter.

"You're not in this alone."

"I am because there's no way I'm dragging you into it.

You got enough shit from WHGOSSIP, you don’t need anymore."

I bury my face in his neck.

"What's going to happen?"

"Mrs.

morning and told me she

in and ask all the questions, but I'm not going to rat her

charges and for this to go to court.” "Does that mean things between you two will go back to the way they were?” He kisses the top

cordial, but I assure you

getting detention for being this late to class.” I tilt my neck back to look at his face, more relief flooding through

can live with

eyes, back and forth, his hands

have skeletons in

met

that

Scott.

so much older than us and married and all the guys think she's so

a past and his is just much more sexual

about you, but I'm pretty sure

of Ryan's face this morning on the way

wants to kill you—

to talk to Blake,

"Blake?"

around, he's

enough of it, it needs to

to

hand lowers to

can't blame the bastard, you're the

my nose, a gesture so sweet it makes

a stop to it, he needs to set his

that conversation going to involve

He smiles.

"I'll be good.

more settled than when I was walking up here to the roof, but there are still things I'm worried

"Do you think Mrs.

notify my parents about the day we left school? I know that sounds so trivial considering what you're about to face, but I

I sigh.

a new one

more focused on me right now.” His face

hear something, I'll give you a heads

He comes even closer.

kiss me before

and my body lights on

surrounds me and pulls me in and I'm completely

"Harper,"

he moans.

of, a security

tongue slides out of my mouth, and he separates

as I don't want to ever leave, we have to go to class.” "I