"Elrod, don't listen to him!" I shouted desperately, my hand gripping his arm tightly.
I didn't want to become a pawn in their game, a bargaining chip to control Elrod.
I wasn't afraid of what these people might do to me.
But I couldn't hold it in anymore. There were things I'd been keeping bottled up inside for days, things I needed to say.
"Elrod, I have to tell you something. I..."
Before I could finish, Elrod kissed me and interrupted my words.
His kiss was hot, his lips brushing mine with a tenderness that made my heart stop. I froze, caught off guard by its raw intensity.
"Melissa, what should I do?" Elrod whispered against my mouth, his voice low and conflicted. "I still want to keep my distance from you for a while, but seeing you like this... I can't just turn my back."
Be
