Ash to Steele by Karen-Anne Stewart Read Free Book Online

“Another lie,” he tsks, the corners of his mouthing tilting up.
       My cell rings again.  I know who it is without having to look. 
       “You’re a wanted woman tonight.” Breck brushes his fingers against my cheek, inspecting me, as I try to control my erratic breathing.  “What is it that you want, Emma?” his words are so soft, I almost think I imagine them.  “Has anyone taken the time to find out what your desires are?  Is that why you came here?”
       The way he reads me so accurately unnerves every fiber of my being.   
      “No one has ever really understood you, have they?”
       His questioning eyes shine brightly in the light of the moon.  Consuming need overwhelms me and tears spring to my eyes at his divination being conjured to life.  I hate what he does to me, what I let him do to me.  “I have to go,” the words leave my mouth in a breathless rush as I turn, scrambling away from him so fast I’m practically running. 
       “Emma!”
       Humiliated by my reaction, I rush faster.  It’s better this way.  Let him think I’m insane, not worth his trouble, and he’ll leave me alone.  I’ll never set foot in the Dark Hole again and the problem will solve itself.  Out of sight, out of mind.  I’ve got to get him out of my mind before I let him get into other parts of me. 
       I don’t stop until I reach my apartment building and burst through the rusted door.  My heart is thumping from exertion as I lean against the wall, taking ragged breaths.  The burn from the frigid air makes my lungs feel raw.  One of my neighbors scurries down the stairs, going to get his nightly fix, and he doesn’t acknowledge my existence, leaving me feeling further confused and  excruciatingly lonely. 
       Thoughts of Dad play in my mind as tears threaten to spill.  Angrily, I wipe them away, refusing to let them fall.  Justin unwelcomingly filters through my head, causing me to swear loudly in the dingy hall.   I haven’t come all this way to escape from the restraint of one man just to have my heart imprisoned by another, which is what will happen if I give into my body’s new cravings.  
       My cell rings again and I shove it inside my jacket, cursing Justin’s impatience.  Now that I’m away from him, I see his ulterior motives.  Justin always treated me with respect, but he never respected who I am inside.  His actions were kind, gentle, and endearing, but they were also suffocating and stifling.  Breck is right; when I talked about my dreams, Justin never encouraged me, he just gave an infuriating placating smile before changing the subject. 
      Anger surges as I storm up the stairs and throw the phone on the bed.  Ignoring the late hour, I grab the paint brush before walking to the windows and throwing the curtains back to allow the moonlight to spill into the room.  I love painting by moonlight; the ambiance is magical, awe-inspiring.  My heart stops when I see Breck standing on the sidewalk three stories below.  His hands are shoved inside his pockets and his shoulders are raised to shield his face from the cold.  When his eyes meet mine, he gives one small nod before disappearing around the corner.
       Shame engulfs me as I watch him walk away.  I don’t know how long I stand at the window thinking of how Breck had followed me to make sure I made it home safely.  That fact leaves me conflicted.  He leaves me conflicted.  A small warmth sparks inside my heart; one that I’ve never felt before.  It’s different than the heat that spills through my veins anytime I’m near him.   Shaking my head, I refuse to think anymore tonight, so I get lost in my painting until I exhaustedly fall onto my bed a couple of hours later.
       Moonlight turns into rays of early morning sun spilling across my face, awakening me.  Blinking against the brightness, I groan sleepily as I glance at the clock, 5:30 a.m.  I have fifteen more minutes before the