whispered. Her throat bobbed against Claire’s hand. She
turned her face as Claire stepped out from behind her, walking
to the side of the bench. She adjusted her hand on Haley’s
throat, releasing her, but tipping her chin up further. Haley
stared at the gorgeous goddess in black, utterly hypnotized by
her regal bearing. “Someone will see us,” she said, a defense
she didn’t want against a woman that she so desperately did.
“What does it matter? This is my house. I have many
secrets, but you aren’t one of them.”
Haley’s heart sank. I’ll never be one of them. I want to be
one of them.
“I allowed you to scream last time. To make as much noise
as you want. I didn’t command you to be silent.” Claire leaned
against the piano’s keys without actually sitting on them, so
that they didn’t make a sound. Her finger smoothed over
Haley’s bottom lip. She didn’t realize it was wobbling until
Claire’s touch steadied her. “No one in this house will judge us
or tattle on us. You’re not my secret while you’re here, but you
know that there isn’t an us out there.”
Haley let her guard down. She knew better than to trust
Claire, but she wanted to. When they were together, she forgot
about everything else. That was a problem, but with her so
close, it was a struggle to remember why. Her body relaxed,
melting back into the bench, lulled by the expression on
Claire’s face, which was far from open, but not closed off like
she usually was either.
As if she was pleased, Claire stroked Haley’s hair. She
finally took a strand between her fingers and caressed it all the
way to the end before she let it fall back. Haley found herself
leaning closer, every passing second making her breathing