Lana couldn't believe those words had just come out of her mouth. Why had she invited him up? But Xyrus was everything a real man should be. He made her feel safe, which was a welcome feeling after being afraid for so long. And the way he looked at her made her feel like the only woman in the room. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder if Xy was too good to be true. He seemed the exact opposite of Dan in so many ways. Would the fantasy end soon? She hoped it didn’t, but the cold reality of her life was always weighing on her. When he opened the passenger door, she got out, her ribs still sore when she moved. “How are you feeling?” he asked. “What do you mean?” she asked. He glanced her way. “I noticed you winced when you got out of the car.”She looked at him and smiled. “I’m okay. Just a little stiff.”He was shaking his head, muttering something under his breath. “I am so sorry, sweetheart. I will never forgive myself for letting you out of my sigh

It was a good day.No, it was a great day. Lana felt peppy. She had more energy than usual—a trend she was beginning to appreciate. She caught herself humming as she restocked the small refrigerator in the front area. “You are positively giddy,” Tina said, almost accusingly. “I am, aren’t I?” Lana replied. She shrugged a shoulder as she looked at the screen highlighting the drink orders and set to work.The bakery was always busy, which she liked. It made the time fly by and she loved chatting with the customers. They rarely got any cranky customers and the regulars had welcomed her and made her feel right at home. She listened to Tina laughing and joking with the steady stream of customers. Lana heard a male voice behind her as she stood at the machine, making one of what felt like a hundred specialty drinks. She turned around, hoping it would be Xyrus, but found a stranger at the counter instead.The voices were similar, but the men couldn’t be more different. Xyrus was tall, h

The nerves in Lana's belly were nerves of excitement, not actual fear or apprehension. She was looking forward to a night out with Xyrus and his friends. It was a little strange to be getting ready for a date. Despite her anxiousness to see Xy, she couldn’t help but think back to the last time she’d agreed to hang out with his friends. The bruise on her face had faded and the one on her ribs was turning an ugly yellow, but it was all still fresh in her mind.Unlike last time, she felt safe with Xyrus. She didn’t feel quite as vulnerable. Danny seemed to have vanished, which she hoped meant he would stay gone for a while. She didn’t want to leave her life behind. She liked it in Taguig and felt like it was the city for her. She’d made friends and had really gotten into the way of life here.In the mirror, she could see the packed suitcase sitting by the door. No matter how comfortable she felt, that feeling of always having one foot out the door was never too far away. She stepped

They had barely made it through the front door of his home before his mouth was on hers. She loved how eager he was and had been feeling the same way all night. The dancing and grinding against one another had been foreplay. Very extended foreplay that left her wet, hot and extremely agitated. Her skin felt too tight as his mouth moved over hers, his tongue delving in and out. She loved the way he tasted and smelled. It wasn’t enough. She wanted to climb on and ride him with her skin pressed against his. She wanted more. He seemed to be holding back. She knew why. He was worried about freaking her out or hurting her. She couldn’t be hurt—not by him. Every part of her was on fire. He had to know how much she wanted him.“Xyrus, I really need you,” she mumbled against his mouth. He pulled away and looked at her, giving her a quick kiss before smiling at her. “Can I get you a drink? Do you want to slow this down?”Her eyes went wide. “No! Absolutely not!”He chuckled. “Good, I was

Lana was busy in the back room, putting more sweet rolls on the trays that would go into the display case up front. Mondays were always busy for them. The morning had flown by. It was her and Tina manning the shop and they had both been hopping around like crazy. Lana’s stomach growled, reminding her she had missed lunch. She would be off soon and was already planning what she was going to make for dinner. It was getting close to that afternoon rush, which left little time to eat as they prepared for the next influx of customers. Restaurants got busy at lunch and coffee shops got busy at the universal two o’clock hour when adults were feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders in serious need of a coffee fix. She loved giving these people that walked in like zombies a nice pick-me-up. The moment the caffeine hit their veins they perked up and immediately seemed much friendlier. Than it was the moms picking up the kids from school and bribing them with sweet pastries before th