Page 36 of Beginning Fate

Instead of bailing out gracefully, I opened the door, jumped out of the car, and ran around to open her door for her. I reached out my hand and relaxed when she took it. I pulled her from the car and wrapped her in my arms. Her body quivered and instantly calmed.

“Better,” I muttered.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. Look if you’re really this uncomfortable with me coming up to your room, then maybe we should just sit out in the lobby and talk instead.”

“And risk some human overhearing us? No way.”

“We could go back to campus and talk instead.”

Her shoulders sagged, and she shook her head.

I wished I knew what she was thinking.

“No, it's fine. I'm just being paranoid. I know you won't hurt me or anything. I'm just nervous being alone with you, then you touch me and it takes away the nerves but also freaks me out a little, if I'm being honest.”

“You don't need to be nervous around me. I couldn’t hurt you even if I wanted to.”

“Excuse me?” She pulled away from me.

“That didn't come out right. I'm just saying to hurt you would hurt me.”

Her nose scrunched up in an adorable way. “That's really not much better.”

“Sorry. I guess you can say I’m not very good at this kind of thing.”

“What do you mean?”

As she started to relax, so did I, and I escorted her inside. She guided us to the elevator, bouncing from one foot to the other despite our contact. But she didn't tell me to go away or change her mind as we reached her floor and then her door.

Her hand shook as she inserted her key card and waited for the light to turn green. The click of the door seemed to suck away all the air around me. A moment later we stepped through the threshold as I listened to the door close behind me.

We were finally alone. Entirely alone.

I desperately wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her again. But I had promised not to do that unless she asked me.

As we stood there staring at each other, feeling the air sizzle around us, I thought she just might ask. Of course she didn't, but no one could blame me for hoping.

“Um, there's not really much seating in here. I hadn't thought about that.”

“It's okay. I'll sit over here, and you can sit over there. I promised I'd behave. Just talk.”

She licked her lips, making it very difficult for me to keep myself planted on that bed.

“Just talk,” she muttered. “Okay.”

I had taken the bed that looked untouched. I assumed that was Kylie's since I knew she hadn't returned last night. Meanwhile Lauren sat on the mussed bed looking sexier than I could ever imagine as she stretched out, kicked off her shoes, and tucked her feet under her.

“Okay then, let's talk.”

“Uh . . .” No words would come. That wasn't like me at all.

I noticed Lauren looked a little awkward and kept looking down at her hands and at one point she even sort of sat on them.

“Not used to talking without signing, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess. It feels weird actually.”

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