Forever Black by Sandi Lynn

I’d rather not discuss it now.”
    The
doorbell rang, and he got up to answer it. I sat there wondering what the hell
I was doing. Was I playing a game? Was I his game? Was he using me to prove
something? He came back with the cartons of Chinese food, plates and
silverware.
    “Can
I have the chopsticks please?” I asked. He looked in the bag and pulled out a
pair and handed them to me.
    “What
are you doing?” I asked him as he started to put food on his and my plate.
    “Um,
serving dinner?” He looked at me with a - are you stupid - look. I shook my
finger from side to side.
    “Let
me,” I said as I grabbed the cartons. “Grab your chopsticks,” I told him.
    “I
don’t know how to use chopsticks, I could never get those things right.”
    “I
will teach you then.”
    “Ellery,
let’s just eat.”
    “We
are going to eat, but my way,” I smiled.
    He
sighed and took his set of chopsticks out of the bag. I took the sweet and sour
pork container, inserted by chopsticks and grabbed a piece of pork, “See,
easy.” If looks could kill, I’d be dead just about now.
    I
took his chopsticks and placed them properly between his fingers. The feel of
his soft skin sent shivers down my spine. I guided his chopsticks inside the
carton and helped him pull out a piece of pork. He looked at me and smirked.
    “See,
it’s not hard with the proper training.”
    I
took a piece of beef and held it to his mouth as he took it and smiled. He was
enjoying this new found way of eating Chinese food even though he would never
admit it. He still had some trouble, but managed to get a piece of pork and brought
it to my mouth. He laughed when I grabbed the chopsticks between my teeth and
refused to let go. This moment we were sharing felt so right and comfortable,
and it scared the hell out of me.
    When
we finished eating, he took his thumb and gently stroked the area above my cut,
“Does it hurt?” he asked sympathetically.
    “Not
anymore,” I answered as I looked down. His touching me like that was killing
me. It stirred up heat in me I never knew existed. Kyle never made me feel the
way Connor does, and I was bothered by that. I should not have these feelings
for him; we’re friends, and that is all we can be. I believe we met for a
reason, but I have yet to find out why.
    “What
are you thinking?” he softly asked. I took his hand and removed it from my
head, holding it up to my face as I gently kissed it. I could feel him tighten
as his breathing grew heavier, but I didn’t and wouldn’t let go.
    “I
was just thinking about how lucky I am to have a friend like you,” I smiled.
    He
smiled and pulled his hand away, “We need to leave early in the morning; we
should get some rest.”
    I
got up and started walking upstairs, “Do you want a pain pill?” He yelled from
the kitchen.
    “No,
I’m fine,” I responded.” I slipped into my night-shirt and got under the
absurdly warm covers.
    I
was looking through my phone when Connor knocked on the door. “Come in.” He
walked in the room wearing dark gray silk pajama bottoms that hung off his
hips. His muscular frame stared at me as my butterflies awoke and the fire
ignited in my blood. He sat down in the chair and reclined it back. “What are
you doing?” I asked.
    “Getting
some rest?”
    “Here?”
    “Yes,
do you have a problem with that?” The only problem I had was trying to keep my
hands off him and having my way with him.
    “Yes
I do Mr. Black.”
    He
sat up and looked at me, “Why? The doctor said you need to be watched for a
concussion. How am I supposed to do that if I’m in the room down the hall?”
    “I’m
fine, and besides you cannot sleep all night in that chair, you’ll be hurting
in the morning, and we have a ten-hour drive to Michigan.”
    “Doctors’
orders Miss Lane, so deal with it. You are not getting your way with this one.”
    “Now
you’re making me feel bad,” I took in a sharp breath and wanted to crucify
myself for what I was