Free Runaway by Stephanie Weiford Page B

me over the edge when I thought he had taken advantage of me and was really together with Priscilla.
    “You alright?” he asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
    “Yeah, sorry. It’s all just… moving so fast,” I replied sadly. He paused for a moment and pulled away just enough to stare towards the ceiling.
    “I’m not a normal guy Daphne,” I tore my eyes away from my feet and looked up into his face. He was still smiling, but he looked, sad. “I grew up in the circus. Other than a few years for college, I’ve never stayed long in one place. I haven’t lived my life in terms of months or years. My life has been measured by much smaller increments, show time… It means… I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rush you. I’m just vividly aware of what little time I have with you, until the show goes on.”
    “Luke… I. I don’t know what to say,” it felt like my heart was breaking, because I knew he was right. His show would move on at the end of the week, and he would be gone from my life. One week, that was all the time we would have to know each other.
    “It’s alright. Let’s see what I can do to put that smile back on your face,” his voice brightened, but his eyes were still troubled. I felt the feeling mirrored in my own. He ran off and I was left to kick my feet in the swing.
    One week … that wasn’t enough time for anything.
    “Ladies and Gentleman!” Luke’s voice boomed all around me in the dark. I laughed shakily; I hadn’t been expecting the sudden noise and nearly slipped from my seat on the swing.
    “Be prepared to witness the amazing contortions, of the fly high princess, the dazzling Daphne Tyler!” As soon as his voice ended, the hoop started to rise and the spot light followed me. I didn’t have a fear of heights, but it was starting to get uncomfortable. I gripped the hoop tightly and willed my butt not to slip.
    The hoop came to a slow stop, I wasn’t nearly as high up as the finale performance had been, but I was still acutely aware that there was no net and a rather hard floor beneath me. All around me ribbons started to unravel themselves and fall, about a half dozen or so in all white. Up close I could see the slight shimmer in the fabric, the way it moved in the spot light. Luke might live on show time, but at least his world was magical.
    The ribbon directly in front of me swayed more than the others as Luke seemed to effortlessly glide down. He had on leg wrapped up in the fabric and chain and the other gripped tightly above his head. He had removed his shirt and I was treated to a close range view of just how tight and strong his muscles were.
    Forgetting my nerves at the height, I reached out one hand to touch him. I could feel the power of him thundering though his body. The strength it took for him to appear so at ease hanging in the air was there just below the surface. I slowly slid my hand around the expanse of his chest, and across the ridges of his abs. He just hung there, letting me touch whatever I wanted. I looked up into his face, his eyes had changed; they weren’t playful or sad anymore. It was like trying to look at a reflection in a smoke engulfed mirror.
    “Do you trust me?” his voice was the same smoke as his eyes. Did I trust him? No. But I wanted too. I wanted to put my blind trust in him like I wanted oxygen to breath. One week… that was just enough time to give myself to him, and hurt like hell when it was over. I would probably need a lot more than Chinese food to make it through next time he hurt me, but the need to just feel something for someone again, for Luke…
    “Yes.”

Chapter Eleven
    “Come here,” Luke reached out to me with his free hand.
    “Look, I know I said I would trust you, but I’m not a monkey man like you. I don’t go swinging around in the air like all that,” I laughed, but part of my mind was liking the idea of letting him take hold of me.
    “Trust me, I’m a professional,” he smiled back.
    “Do you use