Release Day – Her Secret Past

“No,” he exclaimed, “really? Why are you running away?”

“Maybe you are thick, Ry,” I scoffed gently. “Can’t you guess? My dad left us, my mum’s not been the same since and I’m the butt of everyone’s joke at school. I can’t take all that anymore.” I swallowed hard—a lump had formed in my throat. My skin felt electrified and there was a waterfall of tears pressing at the backs of my eyes.

“Oh, Janie, it’s been really tough for you, hasn’t it?”

His strong, soft hand cupped my cheek, and as a tear slipped down he gently wiped it away with his thumb.

“I still think you’re the best girl in the world,” he whispered, his breath caressing my lips he was so very close.

“And you’re not bad, for a boy,” I replied with a wry smile, remembering back to the first argument we’d ever had. Ryan hadn’t wanted to play pretend mummies and daddies with me even though I’d told him he could be a builder for his job and I’d let him play with my Lego. I’d run off crying and he’d followed me and told me he was sorry and that he thought I was the best girl in the world.

I had still been mad at him, so I had just said, “You’re not bad, for a boy.” We’d laughed then, like six-year-olds do, and had got back to playing.

I snapped back to the present, his lips so close to mine, his hand on my cheek. I felt as though I was shaking, my whole body taken by a quake of shock and lust. His lips met mine and I stilled. Quiet peace reigned for a moment. I was at the pinnacle of bliss, everything was perfect and light. Then he moved his lips and the agitation returned. I burned deep in the pit of my stomach, my skin itched for his touch and I burned up, waiting for more.