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whispered. Her throat bobbed against Claire’s hand. She

turned her face as Claire stepped out from behind her, walking

to the side of the bench. She adjusted her hand on Haley’s

throat, releasing her, but tipping her chin up further. Haley

stared at the gorgeous goddess in black, utterly hypnotized by

her regal bearing. “Someone will see us,” she said, a defense

she didn’t want against a woman that she so desperately did.

“What does it matter? This is my house. I have many

secrets, but you aren’t one of them.”

Haley’s heart sank. I’ll never be one of them. I want to be

one of them.

“I allowed you to scream last time. To make as much noise

as you want. I didn’t command you to be silent.” Claire leaned

against the piano’s keys without actually sitting on them, so

that they didn’t make a sound. Her finger smoothed over

Haley’s bottom lip. She didn’t realize it was wobbling until

Claire’s touch steadied her. “No one in this house will judge us

or tattle on us. You’re not my secret while you’re here, but you

know that there isn’t an us out there.”

Haley let her guard down. She knew better than to trust

Claire, but she wanted to. When they were together, she forgot

about everything else. That was a problem, but with her so

close, it was a struggle to remember why. Her body relaxed,

melting back into the bench, lulled by the expression on

Claire’s face, which was far from open, but not closed off like

she usually was either.

As if she was pleased, Claire stroked Haley’s hair. She

finally took a strand between her fingers and caressed it all the

way to the end before she let it fall back. Haley found herself

leaning closer, every passing second making her breathing