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Torn in the midst :
Caleb could not
break this moment between them. Perhaps it was simply desire that
held him where he was, but he couldn't pull away from her. Her
sleepy eyes were so trusting, so curious… It awakened a need deep
within him. For the first time in a very long time, he craved such
close companionship from a woman. He wished to know nothing more
than this desire to feel the first touch of a young woman's lips.
Lowering himself to her, he neared her and swallowed against
common sense. He knew this was wrong even as he let go of his
inhibitions. He closed his eyes for a second longer, wondering if
in the light of day, would he do this? When he opened them, he
stared deeply into her eyes, wishing he could read her thoughts.
How he had come to be this close to her, he didn't remember
anymore.
Unable to deny the greater need within him, he fought against
reason and sanity. His hand reached up, brushing the softness of
her chin before his fingers laced through her hair. Did she know
that he wanted to kiss her? Was she aware of how much he’d been
affected by the touch of her fingers on his lips?
Her eyes hesitantly lowered to his lips and he was lost. He had
seen her look of uncertainty when she’d been touching him. Was she
still remembering that morning in the garden? He wanted more than
anything to erase that memory from her mind. He wanted to show her
that he was far from a monster. He wanted to remove that trace of
fear from her eyes.
His fingers locked in her hair, promising himself to let go if she
turned away. He was caressing her as he looked into her eyes. His
lips nearly touching hers, he breathed, "Just once, Kyra…" He
wished to kiss her just once…
Between Jacob and Serena, there are no easy answers...
He was single of his own choosing. He could have made an effort to
find a woman if he'd wanted, but he hadn't been looking. Instead
he'd been driven to focus his attention solely on a woman who
could never be his. The frustration of it ate at him only because
he felt he'd been wasting away his whole life for nothing.
"It isn't fair," she spoke sadly. Tears welled in her eyes and she
fought against them weakly. She didn't know what drove her on this
way, but before she could stop herself she was telling him, "I
will never know true love. You at least have that chance. I am to
be paired with a man who is without emotion. I'm going to spend my
life never knowing—"
She broke off suddenly. She held her hand to her mouth for a
moment as tears fell from her eyes. She saw him draw closer in
concern, but she pushed back from him shaking her head.
"I will never know what it is. I am to have none of it and they
really don't care at all," she cried softly. Her eyes turned away
from his as she closed them and let the tears fall.
Jacob again stepped closer to her. He couldn't stand by and watch
her fight against such sorrow alone. He raised a hand to her chin,
willing some of his strength into her with his touch.
Serena swallowed and looked back up. She was surprised by the feel
of his hand touching her face. It reminded her of that moment
outside. Her eyes fell to his lips as she remembered his kiss and
her lips parted in reaction.
Something in the room seemed to still around them. Just as it had
that day, a strange air of closeness settled between them.
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