Tour Stop, Excerpt & Giveaway: Time-Lapse by JB Heller

That afternoon, I throw a hoodie on over a pair of jeans and walk to the stream in the forest ten minutes from my house. I arrive just before five, and she’s already here, waiting for me.

She’s sitting on a boulder in the middle of the calf-deep stream of crystalline water. Her arms wrapped around her bent knees where she rests her cheek and stares off into the distance.

I take her in, the curve of her spine, the line of her slender neck, her chocolate waves cascading over one of her smooth shoulders. She’s too perfect for words.

I wish I’d brought my camera with me.

As I walk into the clearing, she looks over at me, and the sadness in her eyes eats at what’s left of my heart.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” she says softly.

I kick off my shoes, roll up my jeans, and step in the cold water. I walk over to her, stopping a foot away from the boulder she’s perched on.

“I’m sorry about this morning.”

Her hazel eyes narrow. “Why are you wearing a hoodie? It’s hot.”

Swallowing, I look down at my clothes, then hers. She’s wearing a pair of light blue denim shorts and a flowy white tank. “Uh, I told you, I’m not feeling well. I was cold when I left home.”

She sits up slowly, her eyes conveying her doubt. “Well, you’re not cold now. You’re sweating.”

I wipe the fine sheen of sweat from my forehead. Shit, this was a bad idea. I turn my face away from her, and look into the water.

“Hux.” Her voice is soft and gentle.

I glance at her from the corner of my eye as she slides off the boulder. I take a quick step back as she approaches me. “What are you doing?”

“Why are you wearing the hoodie, Hux?” she asks as she reaches for me. Her hands stretch up and carefully slide the hood off my head.

I turn my face away, but she catches my jaw in her palm, guiding it back toward her. The contact makes me flinch. I take her wrist and lower her hand from my throbbing cheek. “It’s nothing,” I say as I register the horror in her eyes.

“What happened?” she whispers.

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter, princess.”

Her expression becomes enraged. “Like hell! That is not nothing, Hux. Who did that to you?”

I grit my teeth and regret the move immediately, as pain radiates through my face. “It doesn’t matter. Just drop it,” I grit out.

Her hands grip her tiny hips. “Fuck that. Who hurt you?”

I shouldn’t have come. I knew I shouldn’t have, but I wanted to see her. I wanted to look at her for just a moment. But now I want to get out of here and away from her questions. “I gotta go,” I say, and begin backing away.

“No,” she says, lunging for me. She wraps herself around my body, resting her cheek against my heart. I automatically embrace her and release a deep breath. It feels so good having her in my arms.

“I’m sorry. I’ll stop talking. I’m sorry,” she says as she squeezes me tighter.

I can’t help myself. I drop a kiss on the top of her head and breathe in her scent. It instantly brings me peace. Even if it is just for a moment, I’ll take it.

She lifts her face, glancing up at me, and I’m caught in her gorgeous eyes. Her hands slide up my arms to my shoulders, as she pushes to her tiptoes and kisses me softly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers against my lips, then her fingers move up behind my neck and into the hair at the base of my skull. She grips it gently in her little fists. “Kiss me,” she breathes against my cheek.

I’m helpless to her command. I can’t say no. With one hand on her waist, I move the other to the back of her head and glide my fingers through the strands of her hair. I clench my fist and tug her head back farther. Then I close the distance between our mouths and seal mine over hers.

She clings to me as we stand almost knee-deep in the middle of the stream. My tongue moves against hers the way my body wants to. But it can’t. This will have to do, so I make the most of this stolen moment together.