First and Forever by Zita Christian

Author:Zita Christian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2013-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

That night in bed, despite the ecstasy that could be hers for the taking, Katrina turned on her side, away from Justin, and drew the sheet up to her neck. She’d been here less than a week, but it had been time enough to confirm what she already knew: she could never stay.

She could tell by the way Justin fidgeted this way and that, pulling the sheet with him, that he found being in the same bed just as disconcerting as she did. She hadn’t asked him to sleep on the floor and he hadn’t offered again. This was his house. It wouldn’t be fair. But she didn’t want to sleep on the floor either, not with the bugs and rodents. She decided to simply accept his presence and do her best to put it out of her mind. She’d slept next to Gretchen all her life. Having Justin next to her would be no different.

In the stillness she could hear him breathe. It wasn’t familiar to her yet, not that it ever would be.

He turned on his side facing her and lowered the sheet away from her back. “The sheet is rough, I know,” he whispered. “That’s because it’s new. I bought it when I came out here. It’ll get softer with time. You’ll see.”

“And turn threadbare and fade.” She could tell he had been bewitched by the prairie. It wouldn’t happen to her.

He seemed to consider her comment, then lifted the long braid of her hair and stroked the paintbrush end along her neck and shoulders. “I know you don’t plan to stay. But in the meantime, I thought we could—well, make the best of the situation.”

“Best? Best for whom?” Unless a woman loved a man, letting him get close enough to make love was too close, much too close. She knew that now. She inched away to put distance between them. “I’m sorry, Justin.”

He said nothing. In the dark she couldn’t tell if he was angry, except that he didn’t yank her hair or force her on her back. Instead, he gently released her braid and, after a moment or two, turned on his side away from her.

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