Free Shackled Lily by T L Gray Page B

you are doing, you need to stop it,” I ordered. “She is no match for you, and you know it! Just leave her alone and let her get on with her life.”
    My father looked at me like a five year old having a temper tantrum. “Really Issy, you are being overdramatic. Your mother and I have been friends for years.”
    I got up from the chair and stormed out without a word. So that’s how he did it. He seduced her, made her believe she could trust him again. I felt the bile in my throat as I thought of my mom sitting on the phone, talking with my dad, hanging on his every word. She had never gotten over him. Eight months from now when she was no longer useful, it would end, and she would be heartbroken all over again. I wanted to hate her, but I just pitied her. Stupid woman.
     
     
    Five hours later, I was ready to go. I had washed the purple out of my hair and just let my thick raven locks lay naturally down my back. I also settled on a pair of jeans, heels, and hid my red strapless bustier top with a fitted black jacket. My father would never suspect a night out in this outfit.
    I had called my mom and somehow got through enough of her whining to tell her I had a study group tonight and wouldn’t be able to make it. My father wouldn’t be any wiser until tomorrow. 
    Grant was the only one home when I went to say my goodbyes. He took one look at me and stood up. “Wow, you look amazing.”
    My stomach betrayed me again, doing somersaults as his voice penetrated my ears. “Where’s my dad?” I asked looking bored. I didn’t want to give my father any reason to call my mom looking for me.
    “He’s out with Anna tonight. Some gallery opening in town.” Grant was speaking matter-of-factly, but never once took his eyes off me. I looked around the room, annoyed, until I noticed he was right in front of me, running his fingers through my hair. “Seriously, Issy, I haven’t seen your hair this color in so long I forgot what it looked like.”
    I took his hand off my head, but he held on to it, and wrapped his other hand around my back, trapping me next to him. I started to feel lightheaded as his breath neared my ear. “Tell me you don’t feel it,” he whispered, sending waves of adrenaline down my body.
    He pulled back enough to look me in my eyes which I knew for certain were clouded over with desire. “It doesn’t matter, it’s never going to happen,” I answered softly, while my body language said something completely different. 
    He put his forehead to mine and let out a heavy sigh. “You haunt me, Issy. Your eyes, your smile, the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention, that perfect day…it all haunts me. Just tell me you don’t feel it, please, so I can finally let you go.” His voice felt desperate and so full of pain that I couldn’t be mean to him, even though I knew I needed to be.
    I reached up to touch his soft cheek. “I’m never going to be what you need or deserve. I’m unfixable, Grant, even by you.”
    “I don’t want to fix you, Issy. I just want to complete you…the way you complete me.”
    I felt the tears spring to my eyes and knew I had to get out of there, fast. His words were too perfect, too enticing. I wanted things with him that defied every promise I ever made to myself. But my body denied my request to flee and instead leaned up to kiss him unashamedly.
    He responded, but not with the passionate fury that he had last time. This time it was pure intimacy, so soft and deliberate that my knees went weak. He took his time as if he was memorizing every contour of my mouth, and I let him, even though I felt the walls around my frozen heart crack a little.
    When we finally parted, his eyes were all I could see, and I knew they reflected the same level of love that mine did. I wasn’t even attempting to hide it this time.
    “Stay here with me,” he begged as he caressed my cheek, and I wanted to. I wanted to so badly that my feet felt frozen to the floor.