A Love Lost

Gabriel

When her lips touched my skin, a heat arose, awakening every nerve ending in my body. We were step-siblings. It wasn't illegal really, but I knew that I just couldn't go down that path. Her answering kiss sent me over the edge. Her sweet taste. The way that her lips molded to mine was soft and gentle yet filled with a hidden desire. I couldn't control myself anymore. I answered her. Control was what I needed. What the hell! Stop! My inner voice kept telling me to quit what I was doing, but my body didn't listen. After my brother beat me up for assuming that I had caused Ana to have those bruises, I needed this. I needed her touch. It conveyed that she trusted me not to hurt her.

Her lips moved from mine, down my jaw, to the crease where my neck met my shoulder. She then worked her way down my chest, laying me flat on the lounger. As she planted sweet kisses on each of my bruises, not caused by my brother, she looked up at me. Just seeing her eyes look up at me as she worked her way across my chest and down my abdomen, drove me crazy. As she got closer to my swim shorts, I gently held onto her upper arms to move her up. I needed her lips on mine again, I needed the control.

As I took hold of her arms, I noticed her wince. The bruises looked painful, but I didn't quite know until then the extent of how badly she was hurt. I knew I was lucky she had let me touch her this much. I let go. She stood up and walked to the other side of the pool.

"I shouldn't have done that," Ana said, her voice painted with shame. Did she truly regret kissing me?

I knew I should have given her space, but space was the last thing I wanted to give her. All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around her and hold her until all of her pain was gone. So, I did. I walked over behind her and pulled her into my chest. Then, like the answer to my internal question, she wrapped her arms around me. I felt a moistness on my chest. She was crying. I kissed her hair. It smelled heavenly. Like strawberries and the sea.

"I'm sorry for hurting you." I apologized.

"You didn't." her voice broke.

"Ana. You're crying. Something is wrong. What is it?"

She shook me off. "I'll see you after dinner." Then, she left.