10 Years (Time for Love 5)

I hated this. I hated this with such a passion that I didn’t know what to do with myself. I wished that I’d killed those motherfuckers, rather than just beating the shit out of them, and I didn’t care what kind of person that made me.

My sweet, beautiful, innocent Gwen had been violated by two men, in two different but equally disturbing ways, and I was there. I went with her to that party, we were in the same house, and while I was engaging in consensual sex just down the hall, she was having her virginity taken from her.

I didn’t realize I was crying until Gwen’s soft hand was wiping the tears from my cheek.

“I’m okay,” she said softly, and I couldn’t control myself anymore, I pulled her to me and hugged her tightly, as we cried in each other’s arms.

When we were both still, holding each other close, but cleansed of all our heartache, I pulled away to look down into the face I’d loved forever.

“You’re an amazing, strong, kindhearted, talented, and sexy as hell woman, Gwendolyn, and I could never look at you differently, or think of you as broken,” I promised, caressing her face as I held it in my hands. “I’m here for you. Always. I’ll support you in any way that I can while you do what you need to do. I’ll drive you to appointments, or go with you to them if you want. Anything.”

A sweet smile bloomed across her face, and she simply said, “Thank you.”

“I love you, Gwen,” I replied as I bent to kiss the lips that I planned to kiss for the rest of my life. “I’ve loved you for ten years, and nothing will ever change that.”

“I love you too. Forever.”

Chapter Thirty-Six ~ Gwen

(10 years old)

“You’re my friend too, okay?” Craig stated, causing my heart to flutter sweetly in my chest. “You don’t have to be afraid to come up to me at school, or sit with me at lunch. Anything you need, I got you.”

I smiled shyly at his words.

We were sitting next to each other on the swings, while his brother, my sister, and their friends all laughed nearby.

I couldn’t believe that the boy I’d watched play baseball during recess at school was actually here and talking to me.

And he was nice.

Then he surprised my by taking my hand in his as he started pumping his legs. I started pumping mine too, eager to keep up, and soon we were swinging high, laughing as our stomachs dipped with each descent.

When his brother called out to tell Craig that it was time to go to the batting cages, we stopped moving our legs, letting the swings begin to slow. Once we were almost stopped, Craig jumped off the swing, flying through the air and landing on his feet in front of us. He turned, his longish sandy hair tousled from the jumped, and flashed me a big grin.

“See you at school, Gwen.” Then he turned and hurried toward his brother.

As I watched him walk away, my tummy all aflutter and a dreamy smile on my face, I thought, I’m gonna marry him some day!

Book 6 in the Time for Love series, 3 Seconds, will be released in 2015.

Please keep reading for an excerpt of Indelible, which is available now…

Chapter 1

Samantha

I’m twenty-two years old, wear a size twelve, and am a single mom – things that don’t make me the most popular girl on campus.

I live in family housing. It’s cheap, has a washer and dryer, and makes it a little easier to juggle going to school full time while raising a two-year-old daughter.

Her name is Karrie, and she’s the smartest, funniest, and sweetest child I’ve ever met. I never imagined I’d be pregnant at nineteen, let alone raising a kid by myself. But I guess life doesn’t always go according to plan.

At least, that’s been my experience so far.

When I went away to school, I was your typical first-time-away-from-home, irresponsible, and crazy party girl. I had a blast my first year. Didn’t go to many classes, and partied way too much. You’d think that was when I got knocked up.

Nope.