J.W. LYNNE AUTHOR OF UNIQUE STORIES WITH TWISTS, TURNS, AND SURPRISES

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"You can open your eyes now," I say to Ben.

He opens his eyes, and his gaze goes to the chair. To my clothes. And then to me. But only to my face. Once his eyes are focused on me, they don't stray at all. I wonder if he can see how vulnerable I feel. We sit in silence, just looking into each other's eyes.

Ben pulls himself out of the hot tub and sits on the edge. His chest is rippled with perfect muscles, like a model's, but his skin is marked all over with scars. So many of them. Violating his beautiful body. The scars of his childhood. They hurt me as if they are my own. I feel like there's something I need to do. Not just for me, but for both of us.

"May I hug you?" I ask Ben.

His shoulders tense. "Now?" he asks.

"Is that okay?"

He inhales uncomfortably. "I don't think it's a good idea, Erin."

"Please." I look into his eyes, desperate. "I need to do this."

Ben holds my gaze for a long time, then he exhales and says, "Do whatever you need to do."

Maybe I'm not ready for this or maybe I am. I don't care. I swim across the hot tub and climb up onto the seat. I stand in front of Ben, afraid to touch him, afraid of how it will feel. My heart races. My breaths quicken. My body trembles. All I can think about is fear. I HATE that fear.

I need to do this now, even if it kills me.

I close my eyes and wrap my arms around Ben as tightly as I can. He wraps his arms around me just as tightly. I feel our hearts pounding. I feel our chests rise and fall. I feel the heat radiating from his skin to mine.

I stay there in Ben's arms. Until I stop trembling.