Chapter 39

At my nod, Ryan took a plastic cap and stretched it out with the fingers of both hands. Then he placed it over my head, covering everything including my ears and pressing them to the sides of my head. Kneeling in front of me with a jar of Vaseline, he pulled a glob of it onto his finger. Smiling ever so slightly, he brushed it onto my eyebrows. His touch was so gentle, like a sigh against my skin. He leaned in closer to me, his gaze trained on what he was doing and his lips just inches from mine.

"Close your eyes," he said.

My heart raced so fast with his nearness, I was sure he must've heard it. I closed my eyes even though I wanted to keep them open, sat perfectly still even though I wanted to mold my lips over his for an impression that would surely last forever.

My cell phone chimed in my purse. The alarm I'd set to remind me to text Mom every hour.

"Shit," I hissed. "Can I - "

"No. I have you right where I want you."