Page 64 of Lovestrung

“That’s bullshit.”

He let out an embarrassed chuckle and ducked his head.

“Yeah, maybe it was.” He breathed deeply and leaned closer until our lips were so close, anticipation at feeling them on mine again coursed through me. “But it felt like the truth at the time.”

I wet my lips and caught the tip of his at the same time.

“And now?” I whispered. “What do you feel now?”

Finally, his lips swept over mine, lingering for a few breath taking seconds.

“Now I know I was a fool back then, and I’ll do everything I can to make this – us – work,” he whispered softly. “You’re underneath my skin. You always have been.”

My heart stuttered and took the last leap into falling in love with the man sitting in front of me.

“Why did we leave your place?” I grinned. “I can’t have my wicked way with you in public, and now it’s all I can think about.”

His eyes turned a darker shade of blue. It was the kind of dark that sent a delicious shiver down my spine, because despite not knowing all the signs yet, I already recognized the signs that told me he wanted me.

“Trust me, darlin’,” he brushed his lips over mine again, leaving them tingling and needy, “I haven’t a fucking clue.”

I grinned at him as happiness soared through me, but it came close to fizzling out when my eyes wandered to the farthest end of the room and caught the gaze of Astrid. The speculative way she kept staring at me, her lips pursed and a frown marring her forehead, wasn’t easy to ignore.

“That girl, Astrid?” I raised my eyebrows at Ethan. “She mentioned that she’d see you at work next weekend. Does she work at the animal shelter with you?”

He shook his head.

“Nah, she’s not really an animal person.” He rubbed his palm over his pursed lips. “I have another job. That’s how I know her.”

I waited for him to elaborate but when he didn’t say more, I brushed it off.

“All right then.”

“Look, this other job I have…” He sighed, and I tilted my head, frowning at the way he hunched his shoulders. “It’s a little unconventional, and I won’t continue with it, but I’ll tell you about it when I’m ready. Can you live with that?”

“That sounds very mysterious, Ethan.”

He gave me a smile and shook his head. “It’s not. Please trust me?”

I wrinkled my nose and leaned forward in my seat.

“It’s not illegal, is it?” I whispered.

He snorted and turned his head to look out the window. “No, Penelope, it’s not.” His eyes clouded over but I didn’t doubt the sincerity of his words. “I took this other job, because it allows me the freedom I want and need to live a comfortable life. Because of it, I’ll be able to finish paying off my student loans soon. I want…” He wet his lips, seeming to search for the right words to say. “I never want to depend on anyone, financially, I mean. Do you understand that?”

Relieved, I smiled at him and relaxed back in my chair. “In that case, I trust you.”

“Good.”

16

The Past - Awakening

Pippa & Ethan – ages sixteen and nineteen

“Please tell me why we’re doing this again?” Kate grumbled from our spot in my old treehouse. “What if we get caught?”

“We won’t get caught,” I whispered, my voice harsh. “Mama and Dad are out, and you know how my brothers get when they know our parents won’t be home until the next day.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “They run wild, and I need some ammunition against them.”