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That thought eased him a bit At least he wasn’t co out here?" he asked her "It isn’t safe"

"I orried about you," she told hi, barely even a wolow of youth about her--a sort of freshness that helped hiht his entire life to keep others safe Her whole life was ahead of her, full of choices and promise

He wished he could say the same for himself

"I’m fine I just wanted to be alone," he told her

She sat down beside hi space on the fallen tree he’d found under the old oaks behind the house "I don’t think it’s good for you to be alone right now"

Tho look "Oh yeah? And what do you know about it? You’re just a kid"

"I told you, I’h that even Miss Mabel is just a kid to you Get over yourself already"

Get over hi to a Theronai? You’re supposed to show respect Obedience"

She shrugged and it brought his attention to the slim line of her arms She was slim everywhere, but in the kind of proportion that left Tho

"Give me an order that isn’t stupid and I’ll follow it"

"Here’s one Go back inside"

She snorted "Try again, He-Man"

He-Man? Wasn’t that a cartoon?

Tho to feel more than a little offended by her casual attitude when she hopped up and stood behind hi at her

"You’re all tense I’er, but he wasn’t sure why She was just a little girl A blooded huers settled on his shoulders and pushed deep into tired ood He couldn’t rehting for too many days without a break Ever since Kevin died He couldn’t rest while his friend’s sas lost, and until now, he hadn’t realized what a toll it had taken on his body He ached from head to toe, inside and out He was used to pain--constant, intense pain--but what Car to hiroan of contentment

"Glad you like it," she said as she leaned closer He could feel the swell of her breasts against his back and that feeling of danger increased

She stroked her hands over the nape of his neck in a slow, gentle caress and he realized what that alarm was all about She wanted his attention Not the way a student wanted approval froladly have provided, but the way a woman wanted a man’s attention

Thomas shoved himself up to his feet and backed away fro

She sirl Oh no That ser "What’s the matter?" she asked "Don’t you want ain What was there to say to so like that? He’d never even considered the idea Want her? She was just a kid Noble, honorable irls

She ca his horrified retreat step for step Her hips swayed and her breasts jiggled and she forced hiive in Let her er Let her touch more than just his back Let her take his of the flesh

So what if he had sex with her? She clearly wanted it and was technically an adult by modern-day standards He deserved a little fun before he died Better to take a wo left of his former self to hold his baser instincts at bay He could still be gentle now

Couldn’t he?

The thought ust What if he couldn’t? What if he gave in to his lust and it took over? He had no idea ould happen to hih that he could easily hurt her

"No," he told her, using every bit of conviction he could muster

Carmen’s pursuit stalled and she looked up at hi in her eyes "You don’t want me"

"It’s not that"

"It must be I’ve listened to the huetyou must be the fact that you don’t want ot so"

"I don’t You’re too young"

"I’h to knohen I want to have sex And I do With you" She settled a slender hand on his chest and let it slide down slowly

Thoroan of need "It’s not that simple"

"It is if you want it to be"