Chapter Twelve

His only response was to croon softly, causing her blood to run fast for a few seconds. Then he stopped when he realized what effect that was having on her. Ever so slowly, he stood up and backed away from her, standing just out of arms' reach.

He stared off into the deep forest, listening to the birds as they began to sing again. Just having that much space between her and him, felt like a chasm had opened up in the earth. She didn't like that feeling at all. She wanted to touch him again, have him touch her again. When she started to reach for him, he curved his body away from her outstretched hand and took another step away, just to make sure.

"Don't. I want to touch you. I have to touch you. I feel so empty when we can't touch."

Her eyes began to water and she sniffled. He saw it out of the corner of his eye. He hung his head down to the ground, his nose almost touching the pine needles.

The thoughts racing through his mind were almost too much to comprehend. How could he forget w