Page 46 of What Is Love
He held it out of reach. “Sorry, gorgeous.”
With both hands, I raked my fingers along my scalp and pulled on my hair close to the root, hoping that would distract me from crying. “You don’t understand. It won’t go away.”
“Lottie,” Roe said a little firmly to hold my attention. “What won’t go away?”
A tear slipped out and I tried to inhale but struggled. “I can still feel him kissing me.” Maybe I’d never be able to erase the feeling of him because the kissing would never stop. It was only going to get worse. Eventually, I’d have to sleep with him. If it was this bad just kissing him…I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t and I’dbe punished. I wouldn’t put it past Mother to tie me to a bed for him to do what he wanted. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t stop it from happening.
I dropped my hands from my hair as I tried to take in breath again, but it wasn’t enough. It was too shallow. I fisted Wyatt’s jacket and put my other hand on my chest. “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”
“Lottie,” I heard Roe say as he stepped closer.
“Ah, shit,” Wyatt cursed before I heard a thunk. It sounded like something dropped onto the grass. He grabbed me by my upper arms. “Charlotte,” he snapped. His tone was so serious, it startled me enough to look up at him. Before I could even process what was happening, his mouth was on mine.
I went still—everything went still. Even my mind.
Wyatt was kissing me. That was all I could focus on. He didn’t do anything more than press his lips to mine, but it was effective.
He pulled away far enough to look me in the eye. “Breathe.”
I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs to the point of relief.
When I exhaled, he seemed to relax with me. “Good job. You’re okay.”
“Really, Wyatt? You had to kiss her after she just had her mouth violated?” Roe asked as he came to stand right next to us. His joint was gone.
Wyatt released my arms and rubbed the back of his neck. “Would you believe me if I said I panicked and it was the only thing I could think of?”
Roe shook his head at him before looking me over. “Keep taking deep breaths.”
I did as he said.
“And I wouldn’t have called that a kiss,” Wyatt said.
Roe gave him an exasperated look. “Oh, really? What would you call it, then?”
“A form of resuscitation,” Wyatt said, sounding as if even he didn’t believe it. “It was an act of lifesaving.”
Roe just stared at him like he was ridiculous.
Wyatt let out a sigh and met my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
I laughed. It was either the alcohol or I was delirious, but I laughed. They watched as if I was losing it.
As I tried to calm down, I wiped under my eyes. “Is my makeup ruined?”
Wyatt shook his head. “You still look hot.”
Roe sighed and met my eyes. “Do you like rock music?”
The random question surprised Wyatt as much as it did me. Then he grinned.
Last time Roe had asked me if I liked something, he’d taken me somewhere. “Are you asking me to go listen to rock music with you?”
“Yes,” Roe said.
The sound of laughter from the party traveled to us, reminding me of all the reasons I shouldn’t. I looked past them, trying to see the deck, but the house and landscaping blocked it.
“Make something up,” Roe said. “Don’t go back to him.”
