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He groaned again, louder this ti his fists into his eyes He was in obvious pain I wanted to reach out to him, but I knew I couldn’t

"Don’t do that" His voice was jagged "That was the singleI’ve done in ht of his body sla into me full force

"I don’t understand, then," I whispered

"You didn’t do anything wrong, okay?" His voice edged on frantic "And don’t think for a second I don’t want you--" He had to stop and growl at this, pressing his knuckles to his forehead "It shouldn’t be like this," he said

"Like what?" I asked

"Uncommitted In a hotel roohtened and he held his arms out in frustration

"I can’t!" he shouted "And I’ret it"

He turned away froainst the wall He was still out of breath as he slid doard, turning and slu in the corner of the roo of what had just happened soak in We’d come so close, and Kaidan denied himself For me He’d made his very first self-sacrifice For y rushed through my body as the pieces slammed into place Oh, dear Lord I was in love with hi on earth, in heaven, or in hell that could have stoppedrealization, he turned to uard was down I snappedmode, but it was too late He’d seen it I held my breath for his reaction He closed his eyes and let his head drop to his chest, posture slu it difficult to contain the hugeness of my emotion for hi I closed my eyes and kept it hidden with every scrap of willpower inthe pillow, and walked quickly over to retrievethe pillow, I pulled the tank top over my head and buttoned my shorts I needed to leave--take a walk to clear ive hieez!

He didn’t htstand where it lay and peeked at the caller ID My heart leaped and reen button

"Hello?" I said

"Miss Whitt? It’s Sister Emily"

"Is she awake?"

"I’one to be with the Lord"

What?! My stomach plummeted and I sat hard on the bed, a profound sense of loss inundating my soul