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 has a meeting with the school

all the questions, but I'm not going to rat

for this to go to court.” "Does that mean

this is over, things will be cordial, but I

means, we're definitely getting detention for being this late to class.” I tilt my neck back

live with

back and forth, his hands holding

have skeletons in our

met

hearing that he slept

Scott.

married and all the guys think she's so hot—things I'm trying not to focus

a past and his is just much more sexual

doesn't change how I feel about you, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to explain this all to

the thought of Ryan's face this morning on the way to

to kill you—

to talk to Blake,

"Blake?"

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

to end or

seem to always be

hand lowers to

can't blame the bastard, you're the

kisses the end of my nose, a gesture so sweet

more games with him, I'm putting a stop to it, he

going to

He smiles.

"I'll be good.

than when I was walking up here to the roof, but there are still things

"Do you think Mrs.

or the school board will notify my parents about the day we left school? I know that sounds so trivial considering what you're

I sigh.

feel like there's a new one every second.” "I don't think

focused on me right now.”

if I hear something, I'll give you

He comes even closer.

before I fucking

against mine and my body lights on

his all-consuming presence—it surrounds me

"Harper,"

he moans.

can't get enough of, a security I've needed since the post

of my

want to ever leave, we have to go to class.” "I