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.

told me

and ask all the questions, but I'm not

need is for anyone to press charges and for this to go to court.” "Does that mean things between you two will go back to the way

but I assure

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

back and forth,

skeletons

met

hearing that he

Scott.

and all the guys think she's so

a past and his is just much more

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

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

to

need to talk to Blake, too.” My eyes

"Blake?"

turn around, he's there, trying

had enough of it, it needs to end or we're

does seem to always

hand lowers to my

can't blame the bastard, you're the hottest

a gesture so sweet

him, I'm putting a stop to it, he needs to set his sights on a

conversation going to

He smiles.

"I'll be good.

I was walking up here to

"Do you think Mrs.

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

I sigh.

Easton, and I feel like there's a new one every second.”

she's more focused on me right now.” His

if I hear something, I'll

He comes even closer.

me before

against mine and my body

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

"Harper,"

he moans.

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

of my

as I don't want to ever leave, we