Page 20 of Love Bites
“Do not apologize,” Ignacio chuckled softly then pressed a kiss to her forehead. His voice was husky, sweet and slightly accented. His golden eyes burned so intensely they held Katheryn captive, taking her breath away.
The urge to lean forward and kiss him again was strong. But she couldn’t deal with being rejected a second time. She laid her hands against his chest. It was suddenly difficult to breathe, her heartrate accelerated at his proximity. Awareness struck deep to her core. His nearness lit something afire in her, something she’d never experienced before with anyone.
“Do you want to talk about it, love?” His hand found her face, swiping away a stray red curl that twirled on her cheek.
Katheryn’s walls reconstructed around her at his question. Mistrust reentered, and her body tensed up. She didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want him to know. If she gave too much of herself, how much would he make away with? If she trusted him, would he break that trust?
Raging doubt clashed against the feeling that she could trust him. A tornado and a tsunami fought against each other inside of her, and she didn’t know which would win. They raged back and forth.
Trust him. The fact that he stopped himself from making love to you and thought with a rational mind should say a lot about him.
No! Didn’t you hear what he said? He said he’d make you fall in love with him THEN he’d bed you. He’ll probably leave you after that, just like they all do. Men are all the same!
Not all men are the same. Especially not Ignacio. He’s here every time you need someone to lean on and he’s asked for nothing in return. In fact, he’s given more than any stranger would have. All he wants to know is what’s wrong. He’s not asking you to give anything else.
Oh, yes he is. He’s asking you to open your heart about what happened. That information is glass in his hands. He could use it to manipulate you. He could crush it beneath the weight of his fingertips. Don’t tell him anything.
Let go, give yourself a chance at fun. That’s why you came here, isn’t it? The first step to healing is accepting.
The first step to healing is accepting...
Katheryn swallowed the lump in her throat. Her inner voice was right. If she wanted to move on, stop wallowing in self-pity and not be so mistrustful of everyone who crossed her path, she’d have to accept what had happened. She needed to talk about it with someone other than her mother, someone who wouldn’t guilt trip her, maybe someone who wouldn’t say anything about it at all.
But was Ignacio this someone? “I called,” she whispered, her tone accusatory.
His eyes softened. “I am sorry love. My phone died and I left my charger at my mother’s and I was—indisposed.”
She looked into Ignacio’s eyes, felt something inside her spark at the honesty. His gaze was as smooth and as lovely as honey. A soft yellow-brown that was all too bright, but not at all blinding. She sighed. Perhaps she could trust him with the information. Maybe it would help her move on finally, and let go. Then she’d be able to have a good time.
“Is there somewhere else we could talk?” Katheryn asked quietly.
Ignacio observed her worriedly before nodding. Placing his hand on the small of her back, he led her out of the alleyway. At the mouth of the alley, the friend who had called her fat was waiting.
“You okay?” The boy looked from Ignacio to Katheryn. She wanted to sneer at him for staring at her in such a vulnerable state, but there was no sarcasm in his eyes. There was only concern. So she kept her rudeness to herself.
Ignacio nodded at his friend. “Everything’s fine,” he said then gestured at her. “Let me officially introduce you. Katheryn, this is Antonio Santiago, my best friend. Antonio, this is Katheryn Meyers.”
Antonio’s concern washed away in an instant, and his sarcastic expression was back. One side of his mouth quirked up as he gave Katheryn a once over. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle defensively. There was something about that stare that irked her, and she couldn’t say why.
“What are you smirking at?” she snapped at him.
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
But his smile told her he was lying. She wanted to retort, but Ignacio waved Antonio away and gently guided her in the other direction.
“See you later, Ortiz!” Antonio called out to their backsides.
“What’s his problem?” Katheryn asked as they walked away.
Ignacio shrugged. “Antonio is sixteen years old. He’s not exactly mature. Nor do I think he ever will be.”
Katheryn shot him a look. “Why are you hanging out with a sixteen year old? How old are you anyway?”God, I hope he isn’t an infant.
“I’m twenty-four.”
Same as me.
“And I hang out with him because our families are old friends. We were both born in Mexico, but we migrated to Spain when we were both children. He’s like the younger sibling I never had.”
