“What was that everyday life thing that you survived?” he asked.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” I answered.
“If it was an everyday life thing that wasn’t a big deal, why won’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s not your business, now will you shut up and go?”
“It isn’t because it’s not my business, it’s something else.”
“God! Will you just shut up and go?”
“Yeah, I will, after you f**kin’ talk to me.”
“Why are you pushing this?” I bit off.
“Why do you think?” he shot back.
“I’ve no idea.”
“Could it be, Mara, because I’m into you?”
I pushed back against the armchair, staring at him, stunned.
Then I felt the shutters snap closed on my soul as I whispered, “Shut up.”
His eyes roamed my face then captured mine and he whispered back, “Christ, you won’t even let that penetrate.”
“Shut up,” I whispered.
“What happened to you?” he whispered back.
“Shut up, Mitch.”
His hand came back to my jaw and he asked gently, “Baby, what happened to you?”
“Shut up.”
His thumb swept my cheek again, God, so sweet, so tender then his fingers sifted back into my hair.
“Did someone hurt you?”
Still gentle.
God. Beautiful.
“Please, shut up.”
“Who hurt you, baby?”
“Shut up.”
His fingers curled around the back of my head, his face moved to within an inch of mine and his soulful eyes were so close. So, so close.
“How did they hurt you?”
That was when I lost it. I couldn’t take anymore. Not with him that close, his deep voice that sweet, his hand on me, his eyes looking into mine like he could see into my soul.
I had to stop the questions. I had to shut him up.