I dont want her, Claire, he said. But she made me want her. You understand?
It doesnt matter.
It does. Because now that shes done it once, its going to be easy for her to do it again. His fingers tightened on hers, hard enough to make her wince. Dont try to stop her. Or me, if it comes to that. I have to handle this myself.
Handle it how?
Any way I can, Shane said. He shifted over on the bed. Youre shivering.
Was she? She honestly hadnt realized, but the room felt cold, cold and full of despair. Shane was the only bright thing in it.
She stretched out facing him. Too close, she thought, for her dads comfort, if hed seen them, even though they were only holding hands.
Shane reached down on the other side of the bed, found a blanket,and threw it over both of them. It smelled likewell, like Shane, like his skin and hair, and Claire felt a rush of warmth go through her as she breathed it in. She moved closer to him under the covers, partly to get warm, and partlypartly because she needed to touch him.
He met her halfway, and their bodies pressed together with every curve and hollow. Their intertwined fingers curled in on one another. Even though they were close enough to kiss, they didntit was a kind of intimacy that Claire wasnt used to, being this close and just . . . Being. Shane freed his hand from hers and brushed stray locks of hair back from her eyes. He traced her slightly parted lips.
Youre beautiful, he said. When I first saw you, I thoughtI thought you were too young to be on your own here, in this town. "
"Not now?"
s hand from hers and brushed stray locks of hair back from her eyes. He traced her slightly parted lips.
Youre beautiful, he said. When I first saw you, I thoughtI thought you were too young to be on your own here, in this town. "
"Not now?"
brushed stray locks of hair back from her eyes. He traced her slightly parted lips.
Youre beautiful, he said. When I first saw you, I thoughtI thought you were too young to be on your own here, in this town. "
"Not now?"
Youve made it through better than most of us. But if I could get you to leave this place, I would. Shanes smile was dim and crooked and a little broken, in the shadows. I want you to live,Claire. I need you to live.
Her fingers touched the warm fringe of his hair. Im not worried about me, she said.