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.

me this morning and told me she has a meeting

sure they're going to drag me in and ask all the questions, but

for this to go to court.” "Does that

be cordial, but I

definitely getting detention for being this late to class.” I tilt my

can live with

and forth, his hands holding my

skeletons in our closet,

just met

hearing that he slept with

Scott.

than us and married and all the guys think she's so hot—things

all have a past and his is just much more sexual

how I feel about you, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to explain this all

wince at the thought of Ryan's face this morning

wants to

talk to Blake, too.”

"Blake?"

time I turn around, he's there, trying to

of it, it needs to

to

hand lowers to

the bastard, you're the hottest girl

my nose, a gesture

a stop to it, he needs to set his sights on a

that conversation going to involve

He smiles.

"I'll be good.

so much more settled than when I was walking up here to the roof, but

"Do you think Mrs.

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

I sigh.

a new one every

more focused on me right now.” His

I'll

He comes even closer.

kiss me before

crash against mine and

scent, his touch, his all-consuming presence—it surrounds me and pulls me in and

"Harper,"

he moans.

a security I've needed since the post

tongue slides out of my mouth,

much as I don't want to ever leave, we have to go