CHAPTER EIGHTEEN I gazed at the tall pines that surrounded the patio, and beyond to the starlit sky. I needed a moment to catch my breath before I met Tristan’s glorious eyes. The kiss left a burn of desire I found difficult to ignore. But this was wrong. I wasn’t supposed to be intimate with anyone until Temple sanctioned our future marriage and that would never happen with the Rebel boy who made my pulse race. A slight shock on my cheek brought my head around. Tristan removed his hand and shoved into his pocket like he was angry, but his eyes appeared calm. “Are you okay? Was that okay?” I nodded but said, “No.” Then I offered him a shaky smile. Tristan chuckled and leaned toward me. I put my hands up and scooted back against my chair. “I can’t.” Tristan put his elbows on his …show more content…
“Why are you upset again?” Unable to speak around the lump in my throat, I shook my head and tried to smile. My lip quivered under the effort to hold back tears and then two streams ran down my cheeks. I frantically swiped at them, but it was no good, so I covered my face. “There’s no need to feel embarrassed. Please, just tell me why you’re crying. Is it something I said?” How did he always seem to know how I was feeling? His breath warm against the back of my hands, I peeked between my fingers and, mesmerized by the glowing green eyes that bore into my soul, my tears dried up. “How could my dad sing me a song that talks of war and call it a lullaby? And why did he lie? He didn’t write this song.” I wiped my cheeks with my sleeve, really wishing I would stop crying. It was embarrassing. Tristan’s compassion came through his eyes like a statement. He’d take away my pain if he could. I don’t know how I knew that, but I did. For him, I shoved away my sorrow, and then my anger. I forced myself to relax, and as I did curiosity bubbled to the surface. “Tell me about your