page6 (1/2)

We s one hand to my cheek "You sleep okay?"

"Yeah," I say softly "I'ood"

He smiles, takes ainst the counter while he puts the kettle on to boil He doesn't bother with coffee for himself, and I know he's already had his one cup for the day as evidenced by the e the way his T-shirt pulls across the muscles of his back, his trim waist, and his fantastic ass in his jeans I flush with desire, which see than it ever has before I think this may be because Beck and I are very different to each other this very , and he didn't run

He took care of ht now as he makes my tea

When he has it prepared with just a small splash of skim milk, he turns and hands it to me "What do you want to do today?"

It's a given he's not going in to work I know he's not going to leaveabout enda is I also know, deep down, he's not prepared to handle what the fallout will oing to be bubbling with unexpressed fury by the time I'm done, and I brace myself that I'll need to control him so he doesn't act out rashly

I know enough about Beck to know his relationship with JT is over, and I'ar Bowl While bringing JT down is still onneed to make sure Beck is protected when it all shakes out

"We should talk," I tell hi on my tea to cool it

"Yeah," he says quietly "I need to know everything"

I need to know everything Every last sordid detail so I can truly understand Sela and there will be no more walls and secrets between us I need to hear the absolute truth, and then I need to ht

Still,ready to hear is probably going to destroy me The pain I bore for Caroline was different I was her rockthe pillar of strength she used to get through her ordeal

Sela's done enda with regard to JT, shit got ripped open wide yesterday and I know she's hurting again Not only because of what happened to her, but mostly because of the callous way in which I handled it

Turning fro room She puts her cup of tea on the coffee table and sits on one end of the white suede couch, curling her feet up underneath her Legs bare, her breasts outlined against ly sexy Yet I feel terrible for looking at her that way I have no right, really

Not right at this moment

I follow her into the living room and she watches me as I round the couch But rather than sit next to her, or even on the opposite end, I walk over to theagain Tucking my hands into my pockets, I stare out over the bay, and I find comfort in the distance, which is odd, I know

My internal instincts push me to walk over, pick Sela up, and settle her on my lap I want to wrap my arms around her, open my ears, and let her pour her heart out in the safety of my embrace

Yet I need these few feet between us coh I want to wrap ain, I've also got a ru deep in the pit ofready to lay it all out

I turn my head over , leans forward, and pulls her cup of tea into her hands When she curls it in toward her chest to hold the warainst her, she murmurs, "Where do you want me to start?"

My heart cramps as I turn to face her fully I rock up onto y "Frouess"

Sela takes a sip, looking abnormally composed She leans forward, sets the tea on the table, and leans back against the cushions With her hands folded in her lap, she tilts her chin up and says, "I was sixteen It was my birthday"

My breath rushes out between ivessmile

She fucking sive me comfort

My heart squeezes again, and I almost take a step toward her, but her next words stop me dead in my tracks