Page 41 of All the Promises We Break

One last hum over me and I can’t contain the fire she’s stoked. I fling my arm over the back of the chair pushing all the force I feel into the frame. I let my fingers stiffen in her hair. She releases one last, long groan before she returns to her prayer pose.

It takes me a minute before I’m able to find words that even match. “Viper, I love you beyond measure.”

“I love you too. Now follow me, round two awaits.”

She slides her body back along the floor, pulling herself first on to the bench, then the foot of the bed behind her. Dylan motions for me to follow. As I stalk toward her, her body inches back untilshe reaches the pillows. I give thanks for the nap on the drive up. She was right. I think we’ll see the sunrise.

Chapter Sixteen

Hayley

Even with the no cross zone rules, just knowing what Dylan and Eli are likely up to tonight is too much. I think Wes is feeling it too. The moon is so bright in the sky. It seems so big, so close. I want to reach out and touch it. I catch Wes looking at me every once in a while out of the corner of his eye.

Wes says the light we have tonight would be great for one of his hidden hiking trails. His hand holding mine, sometimes the arm around my shoulder, this walk has the potential to be good on so many levels.

One, like I immediately thought, it will get us away from the goings-on on the other side of the house. Two, it will feel good to stretch our legs after the four-hour plus drive. Last, and most important to me, we won’t be locked into that limbo space we have to settle into. I’m a pretty good actress, but even a good one can have an off day.

I stumble a bit on my feet and bump into him. He gets me settled then takes my hand. Wes has me leap up on a fallen tree. I’m the tightrope walker, he’s my umbrella, my balance. Thereare threads of truth to that. In some ways, I’ve always struggled to be taken seriously as the adult I am. My parents don’t do it intentionally, but they’re my parents. I’ll be little to them forever if they would have it.

Eli’s the best about it in most ways. He’s the one I always go to for advice on my classes and have no fear about showing him works in progress. He’ll always tell me the truth, even if it’s not what I want to hear. I wish in our relationship I was better at that. Even with all the fun I’m having with Wes, the feelings between us, there’s this layer of guilt. It’s one thing to keep details from Eli he doesn’t need to know, but this is bigger than that.

“Are you going to jump down?” Wes asks.

I didn’t realize I’d walked to the end and just stood there. I’m looking over the edge like it’s a cliff. Do I stay or do I fall? It’s a total metaphor for where we’re at. I don’t want to be played, not that he would, but I’m not ready to say this isn’t for me.

“Hayles? Hey. Where are you?”

“I’m here. Right here, sorry.” I tower over him for once. He lets go of my hand to rest his on my waist. My hands glide over his red buffalo plaid jacket to his neck. I only have to bend in just a little to give him the kiss I’ve waited about six hours now to give.

“Mmmm. That will keep me warm.” Wes holds me suspended in the air for a second or two before he slowly slides my body down his, until I’m on the tips of my toes.

Stunned silence is not a special gift I have. It makes me feel awkward and out of control. I always have something to say. I wish at this moment I wasn’t drawing a total blank. “What if they come looking for us and we’re gone?” I ask.

Wes chuckles a bit. “You know they’re linked for the night. They won’t notice. If they do and hit common space, I left a note on the island.”

“Are you sure we’re going in the right direction?”

“You don’t trust me? Hayles, I’ve hiked these hills for more than half my life. Don’t worry so much. Just enjoy.”

“I didn’t realize you were a bit of a lumberjack. I like you in this flannel shirt. That rugged look is hotter than I realized.”

“Showing me potential fetishes could be dangerous.”

“What do you like? I mean your harem has been varied over the years, so I could never nail you down to a type.” Stunned silence has shed my filter in a not so good way.

“Harem? I’m a one-woman man. One at a time that is. I’m not a cheater. I do have some sort of compass.”

I can tell I’ve either hit the mark or hurt his feelings. Maybe it’s even a little of both. “You don’t have to get angry and defensive. That usually means you have something to hide.”

“I don’t have anything to hide, except for you.”

I know he meant it as a joke or payback. Regardless, it stings a lot. The air between us gets even colder than the weather. To create a bit of heat, I pull my hands inside my sweatshirt sleeves as I wrap my arms around myself. There’s a gentle shiver to my whole body.

“Are you cold?”

“Forget it. I’m fine.”

“Let me rephrase, is your body cold? I already know that your attitude is.”

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