The One by Jacquelyn Ayres

Author:Jacquelyn Ayres
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Southern Seduction novella
Publisher: Jacquelyn Ayres
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

I listen to Shelby breathing as she sleeps. So peaceful now, compared to the emotional roller coaster she was on half an hour ago. My heart aches for her. She’s gone through so much. More than she’s even allowed me to know. In a way, I don’t want to know all of the bad stuff. I don’t want to know what that son of a bitch did to her. I can only imagine, and I already want to kill him.

There’s so much more I want to ask her. So much I’m confused about. Like, how did she end up here? When did she leave Owen’s? Why didn’t she leave sooner, and if she did, where did she stay? I don’t want to bombard her with these questions, though. I don’t want to scare her off. I’ve finally got her opening up to me. I’m also frightened that that was a fluke. The snuggling. The kiss. Oh hell—that kiss! It was so soft and pure—and yet, it did the most impure things to me. What if she wakes up and pushes me away? I warned her that she was opening a door I wouldn’t let her close.

Looking down at her, I can’t help but be captivated by her beauty. She is nothing like and everything like I imagined my one would be. I wonder if I should tell her what I remembered the other day. No. I’ll keep that to myself until I can’t any longer. Damn, she feels good in my arms. I let my hand slide down her side and onto her hip. Her jeans always hug her hips so nicely. I’ve been watching her sleep this entire time, and it’s been hard to restrain myself from touching her at all. I lean down and inhale her scent deeply. My breath matches my racing pulse as I squeeze her hip and run my nose up the side of her neck.

“No!” Shelby yelps and pushes out of my arms.

“Shelby, it’s me. It’s Kip.” I grip her flailing arms gently. She stops and stares at me, visibly shaken. “God, baby ... what did he do to you?” I palm her face.

“I’ve gotta go,” she says softly and tries to climb out of my bed.

“No.” I pull her back. “You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Where you were meant to be.”

“What were you doing? What were you trying to do?” She stares through me.

“I’m sorry.” I look down. “I needed to touch you. But, Shelby, I wasn’t going to do anythin’ inappropriate. I think I just startled you. Don’t leave, please.” I slide my fingers down her arm to her hand and bring it up to my mouth. I peck at each of her fingertips and her palm before pressing it to my cheek. She stays silent. “Are you ready to talk some more?”

“What else is there to say?”

“Well, how did you manage to make your way out here? Why did it take you so long to come?” I relax my head onto the pillow so that we are face to face.

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