Page 59 of Daddy's Wild Girl

Moving away from him, she bumped into Corbin.

“Get away from me, Bebe! You’re just going to infect me too. And I deserve better than you.”

No! No, no, no.

How could Corbin believe them all? How could he be just like them?

Sobs broke free as everyone crowded around her. They were all pushing in on her. She couldn’t breathe!

She couldn’t breathe!

“Wake up!”

Why couldn’tshe catch her breath?

“Wake up, Bebe! Breathe!”

She woke up, gasping for breath, looking around her frantically.

Where was she? Where were the cameras? The screaming reporters? The lights?

“Bebe? It’s me! It’s Corbin. Hey, you’re all right. You’re in your house with me and Hayes.”

She stared up at him for a long moment, trying to get her brain to work.

Corbin. This was Corbin. But not the Corbin from her dreams. He wasn’t staring down at her like his world revolved around her, his arm wasn’t wrapped protectively around her . . . and he . . . hadn’t turned on her when the reporters had appeared.

God, what did all of that mean?

You know what it means. You’re interested in him. You like him.

And you’re worried that he’s going to betray and hurt you like everyone else in your life has.

That he’ll turn out to be a jerk like theasshole.

“Jesus, you’re trembling.” Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her and she knew that she shouldn’t give in. Shouldn’t let herself settle into his arms and hug him back.

But she couldn’t help it.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she clung to him. He ran his hand up and down her back.

“It’s all right, Bebe. I’m here. No one is going to hurt you. You’re safe.”

As her heartbeat began to settle and her fear started to ease, she realized just how much she liked being held by him.

They’d nearly kissed.

And she wanted that. So badly. To feel him press his lips to hers, to press her body tightly against his.

To give in to the pleasure.

But she couldn’t. She’d sworn that she was done with relationships. Yeah, she was twenty-five, but she wasn’t going to risk being torn apart again. Because she didn’t think she’d come back from that a third time.

Enough was enough.

So she drew herself back, trying not to notice that he was in his pajama pants.

And nothing else.

---