She broke the kiss, pulling back as if she had been burned. The single, spontaneous act of affection had overwhelmed her, and her defenses came crashing back into place. Eric touched his own lips, his expression a mixture of surprise, happiness and a deep, aching tenderness.
"Delia," he said, her name a soft, questioning sound in the quiet, rain-swept room.
She stood up abruptly from the bed, needing to put space between them, needing to escape the raw emotion that was threatening to drown her. She wanted to leave, to retreat to the cold, safe logic of her own thoughts, but he was faster. He caught her hand and gently but firmly cornered her, his body blocking her path, her back pressed against the cool, solid wall.
"I can't return your feelings, Eric," Delia whispered, her voice trembling, her gaze fixed on the floor.
"I'm afraid I will hurt you so bad when this last petals fall. I don't want to hurt you." She thought to herself.
