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The oxygen stalled in her throat and she dashed her hands up, trying to wipe away the evidence of her sorrow

He studied her silently, his brows corimace as he undoubtedly saw the tears on her face that she hadn't been able to contain Standing completely still, Courtney bit her lip and then tried for a smile It came out rather shaky, and she knew she'd failed aze left his, as she looked down at the floor, oblivious to his eyes sweeping down her body and then up again

As she continued to stare at the carpet, his voice caht?"

At the unexpected sympathy she heard in his voice, she closed her eyes in despair and was unable to keep her face fro As the tears rolled down her cheeks, she answered his question by shaking her head, but then appalled that she was being a burden, she changed direction, nodding her head instead

He let out a rough laugh that held no humor and even with her eyes closed, she knew he came to stand directly in front of her He tipped her chin up with a single gentle finger and her eyes flew open to stare into his His thue feeling in her stomach that she'd never felt beforebut there was little doubt in herto do with his overt ravelly voice

She nodded her head as the tears continued to run silently down her cheeks

With one hand cradling her jaw, his other came up and almost absently, he picked up a tress of her blonde hair "You have every right to cry, sweetheart Every right in the world," he said entle, soothing action as her eyes held his "I understand what you're going throughat least, somewhat"

She listened in silence, letting his tender touch and soothing, ords flow through her and comfort her

"Losingout a tortured breath of air "But I was older than you, and it was only the one parent" His lips flattened sadly and Courtney clung to his warine what it must be like to be in your shoes, but honestly, I can't" The words were compassionate, warm, and they soothed her as well as sent a raw shiver down her spine Mostly, they made her remember what she'd lost and a fresh batch of tears spilled over

Her eyes closed again but he tipped her chin up in a bid for her to look at him And she did; she opened her lids and stared into his dark, i, sweetheart I've never er When I think about what you endured--" He took a breath "Being thrown into this household, knoere still in our own kind of shockor needing attention Don't think I haven't noticed the strength andboth of your parents at seventeen, being ripped away from your home and your friends--"

Sharp misery pierced her at the reminders "Stop," she choked out and then looked back down in both anguish and embarrassment

"Fuck--"

At the harsh expletive, her eyes flew back to his in shock, the word and the tone so out of sync with the way he'd behaved during the last few moments

There was a look of bitter recri to make it better, but I--"

Abruptly, Courtney reached up and put her fingers to his lips, pressing lightly against they

His eyes sharpened and then narrowed He hissed in a hot breath that she felt through her fingertips The hand on her cheek tightened while his fingers in her hair grasped her more firmly as she felt the pull on her scalp

His lips felt warainst her touch and startled at the intimacy, she sucked in a breath At her reaction, he stilled completely and Courtney felt a tension overtake his muscles, as they seemed to stiffen

Not quite believing she'd had the audacity to touch his lips, she snatched her hand away in horror and hid it behind her back, unconsciously balling her fingers, not wanting to let his warmth slip away

Wiping away her tears with her other hand, she looked down again and waited for him to speak

She are that he was breathing deeply, almost as if winded, but after a moment, he seemed to calm down