DARE-TO-LOVE-TRUTH-AND-DARE-DUET-COLLECTION-by-Lylah-James-pdfarchive

The panic began with a cluster of sparks in my
abdomen. My skin itched, feeling too tight around my flesh.
My own body was causing me to suffocate. Chest heaving,
breath coming out in gasps and tears threatening to fall, I
crumbled to the ground. Maddox came with me, not letting
go. My heart jumped in terror, in fear, and each breath I
pulled into my body became painful.
Why? Why was he doing this to me? Why, Maddox?
There was a hurricane of emotions coursing inside me,
threatening to burst through. I couldn’t stop shaking, my
mind playing continuous tricks on me.
“Breathe,” Maddox said, his voice breaking through the
chaos in my head.
“I… can’t.”
Breathe! Damn it, I told myself.
I clutched my chest and gasped. Ten… nine… eight…
The world around me slowed and became a blur, my
blood turned to ice and my body felt… numb. There was a
vicious pounding in the back of my head and the veins in
my neck throbbed.
“I believe in you,” he whispered.
Seven… six… five… four…
“Breathe, baby.”
Three… two… one.
For the longest time, we stayed just like this.
My head lolled backward onto his shoulders. “Is this fun
to you? Seeing me like this…?”
His lips brushed my temple, softly. “No. But I’m about to
help you conquer your fear. You only live once, Lila.”
“I… can’t do it today,” I confessed.
Maddox shook his head. “Not today, not tomorrow… but
maybe next week. We’re going to keep trying.”
My chin wobbled, and I nodded my head.
I did try. For five days, I tried. Maddox successfully got
me closer to his car. Every day, he opened the passenger
door, and I’d crumble to the ground, shaking and gasping.