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.

this morning and told me she has

ask all the

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 they were?” He kisses

over, things will be cordial, but I assure you I won't be asking

detention for being this late to class.” I tilt my neck back to look at his

can live with

and forth, his hands holding my face

skeletons in our closet,

just met one of

hated hearing that he slept with

Scott.

think she's so hot—things I'm trying not to focus

a past and his is just much more sexual

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

face this morning

to kill you—

to Blake,

"Blake?"

turn around, he's there, trying to

it, it needs to end or we're just going to

seem to always

hand lowers to my

can't blame the

nose, a

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

that conversation going

He smiles.

"I'll be good.

up here to the roof, but there are still things I'm worried

"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 about to face, but I want to prepare myself for

I sigh.

there's a new one

me right now.” His face moves

hear something, I'll give you

He comes even closer.

kiss me before

mine and

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

"Harper,"

he moans.

get enough of, a security

my mouth,

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