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.

and told me she has a meeting with the

drag me in and ask all the questions, but I'm not going to

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

is over, things will be cordial, but I

being this late to class.” I tilt my neck back to look at his face, more relief

can live

my eyes, back and forth,

skeletons in our

met one

that he slept

Scott.

guys think she's so

we all have a past and his is just much more sexual than

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

Ryan's face this morning on

wants to kill

to Blake, too.”

"Blake?"

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

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

to

lowers to

you, Harper, and I can't blame the bastard, you're the hottest

a gesture so sweet it makes

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

going to

He smiles.

"I'll be good.

feel so much more settled than when I was walking up here to

"Do you think Mrs.

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.

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

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

hear something, I'll give you

He comes even closer.

kiss me before I fucking

mine and my body lights

surrounds me and pulls me in

"Harper,"

he moans.

enough of, a

slides out of my mouth,

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