Buried secrets, two girls with the same face, and a boy who loved too much.
***
When Travis and Nicole meet on a bus for the first time, he thinks she's his ex, Rachel, who broke his heart two years ago. But he doesn't understand why she's pretendin...
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I TURNED AWAY from him afterwards, bringing my knees to my chest. My arms wrapped tightly around me as uncontrollable shivers coursed through my body, my teeth chattering.
My heart was an overwhelmed, uncontrollable thing.
He didn't ask if something was wrong. He didn't have to. There was a sudden shift, and I know he felt it too. Pulling me back against his chest, he wrapped his arms around me, his naked warmth seeping into my body.
"Why are you terrified?" His voice was silky against my ear, warm breath fanning against my skin.
Because now I'm so vulnerable, more than you could ever imagine, I wanted to say, but couldn't. I hugged myself tighter instead.
His fingers trailed down the length of my torso. I still felt the sparks. Too many sparks. "I never want you to be scared, baby. You're safe with me."
I didn't say anything. My throat was closed up.
He pushed my hair away from my neck, pressed a kiss to the exposed skin, then to the curve of my shoulder. "You're precious to me," he whispered against my skin. "More than you can ever imagine, Nicole. I mean it."
Gently his fingers weaved through my hair. He kissed my temple, my cheek, all the while murmuring to me like one would a skittish child. Soft whispers. Secrets shared in the dark. And when my shivers had ceased, I let out a pathetic whimper as he turned me to face him and held me close.
My lashes lowered, unable to look him in the eye. My body was tensed, fists clenched so tightly my nails dug sharply into my palm.
Tilting my chin upward, he rubbed his thumb over my cheek. Then kissed me so softly. Endlessly.
I trembled in his arms, gasping, brows pulling together as I fought hard against my emotions. He tasted so good. Felt too good. It was too unfair.
He did things to me.
He held me, making soothing sounds that vibrated all the way to my very core as his lips moved over mine. His kisses trailed down my neck. Over my collarbone. Back to my mouth. Till my taut muscles turned to lax under his melting touch, my fists unclenching and gripping him for dear life.
My emotions splintered to a million pieces under the tender onslaught of his burning affection.
With a helpless cry, I shattered all over again.
***
I was alone in bed the next morning, the covers tucked snugly around my body. For about five minutes, I was just lying there uselessly, blinking at the window, watching the sliver of sunlight peeking through the curtains.
Then I got fed up with being lazy.
Stretching, I slipped out of the comfortable sheets and stuffed my feet into the flip-flops resting at the foot of the bed. I dragged myself to the bathroom. After brushing my teeth and changing into his clothes, I trudged downstairs.
