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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Teaser Tuesday from Life is a Highway

Okay, kiddies. Here's my first teaser on my new blog. How exciting! It's an inaugral post! Anyway, it's from the first part of Life is a Highway. Liam, who has a heart condition collapsed while hanging playing Rockband with the group, and he's been rushed to the hospital. The friends are waiting to get to see him after he's admitted.

At the sound of Chloe’s sobs, Aidan’s grip tightened around my hand. When I glanced up at him, his jaw was clenched. Before I could say anything to him, he bolted out of his chair. “I need some air,” he muttered, before he hightailed it across the waiting room and shot out the sliding doors into the dark night.

Christian looked helplessly at me before I headed outside. Scanning the shadowy parking lot, I didn’t see Aidan. Finally in the beam of one of the street lights, I saw him leaned face first against the corner of the building. I jogged over to him.

As I got closer, I heard the sound of his cries. His broad shoulders shook as he pummeled his fist against the concrete. “Aidan,” I whispered. He ignored me and kept hitting the wall. I gasped when blood stained the spot. I ran my hands over his back. “Aidan, please stop. You’re hurting yourself,” I cried. When he didn’t respond, I wrapped my arms around his waist and tugged with all my strength. He collapsed into me, and his weight caused me to slam into the wall. My sweater tore across the concrete, and I cringed. Aidan's arms dropped to his side, the blood on his fists smearing his jeans.

Defeated, his head drooped against my shoulder. I ran my fingers through his hair and then down his back in wide circles. “Shh, don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. Liam is going to be okay,” I said. He continued sobbing, his tears soaking through my shirt.

My mind spun as I tried to figure out how to comfort him. Finally, words began spewing out of my mouth. "Okay, just let it all out. It's going to be all right, I promise. I’m here for you, and I love you,” I whispered into his ear.

He jerked his head up to stare into my eyes. “You love me?” he questioned, in a strangled voice.

My face flushed with heat of the mistake I’d made with my words. I’d wanted to tell him I loved him for a long time, but at the moment, those feelings were the farthest from my mind. I loved him then like the aggravating older brother and best friend he’d always been.

“Well, uh, yeah, of course, I love you....and I love Liam,” I stammered.

His eyes burned into me, and my cheeks became enflamed. I wanted him to say something, anything, but he didn't. Finally, he bobbed his head. But he still kept staring at me. Grief had been replaced by a questioning look, and I felt like he was searching me for answers I wasn’t sure I had. His piercing gazed stripped me down to my bare soul, sending liquid fire scorching from my cheeks down to the pit of my stomach.

As we hovered together in the darkened corner of the parking lot, I found myself aching for him in different way than I had just minutes before. I hated myself for the feelings that coursed through me. Liam was lying in the ER, and I was having lovesick--even impure-- thoughts that about his brother. I shuddered.

But by the look on Aidan’s face, he was just as bad. His breath hovered over my cheek. “Maddie,” he whispered. He pressed himself against me, pinning me harder against the wall. His chest crushed mine as his arms encircled my waist.

His lips almost grazed mine when I heard Christian’s voice cutting through the haze. Aidan’s head jerked back, and when he stared back at me, he looked stunned at what had almost transpired between us.

17 comments:

Rebecca A. Rogers said...

Oh, shit!! Dude, that was hot at the end. *fans self* Woooo, lawd!

Lee Bross said...

OMG OMG OMG. That was amazing. I got all teary eyed then breathless waiting for him to kiss her.

Amna said...

OH MY GOD.

How did you get me so sad at the beginning then so hot at the end?

You are brilliant.

Anonymous said...

Hehe, the "I love you" part was very well done -- all that confusion, embarrassment...

Karla Calalang said...

Oh my gosh. I love your writing style. I agree with everyone else. So sad in the beginning but then so smexy at the end. Good job!

Stephanie said...

This rocked, Krista. The beginning was all sad and then you turned it into smexy time. Great teaser!

Jamie Blair said...

OOOOOO this is good stuffffff!!! "I love you" - OOOOHHH NO I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT - SHIZZZ!! hahaha!!! Very nice...

VĂ©ro L said...

That was very gripping!

Anonymous said...

Really. Great. Scene. Truly.

Raven M said...

I wanted to cry in the beginning and then all of a sudden my heart was racing.

Great snip!

Emilia Plater said...

Ahh I love it! "sending liquid fire scorching from my cheeks down to the pit of my stomach" - whoa.

Annie McElfresh said...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!!!!! Falling for two brothers...could be dangerous...but me likes it!!

PS Welcome to Blogspot :)

J.S. Wood said...

Tease, tease, tease, tease, tease!!!

Aw man, not even a heated kiss. *pouts*

I love the way you went from his anger to desire in a short time. Very cool!

Laurie said...

Ok, confession. I like boys who act out in potentially harmful ways. Lots of passion. So this was really awesome. I love the way she stopped him and I loved the dynamics between the character. Really good work.

Amanda said...

Wow...

I really can't think of anything else to say. Just... Wow.

in which a girl reads said...

This was amazing!

I'm so curious about Aidan and Liam and the MC's relationship with the two.

Great teaser :)

Aimee said...

Wow. I love this! I want more :)