New Release and Giveaways! PUNISHED by Krys Fenner (Dark Road #2)

Excerpt:

David rolled over and his arm landed against the mattress. He patted around beside himself and opened his eyes. Where was Bella? Hadn’t she fallen asleep next to him? He switched the light on and climbed out of bed. The door to his bedroom hadn’t been fully shut when they laid down. He strode across the room, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and paused in the doorway. Soft sounds of the piano echoed in the foyer below.

She must’ve woken up and wandered around the house. With a small sigh, he followed the musical notes. The piano had been moved to the library a few weeks back on the other side of the house. His sister got tired of hearing him play; something he’d done more of since the festival.

“♫ I told you everything; Opened up and let you in; You made me feel alright for once in my life♫”

Bella had an exquisite voice. She was the most melodic creature he’d ever met. David stopped halfway to the library and merely listened to her sing.

“♫Now all that’s left of me; Is what I pretend to be; So together but so broken up inside♫”

Unusual song choice. He’d never heard this particular song alone with the piano. It was eerily beautiful and haunted him at the same time. Of all the songs she could’ve sung, why that particular choice? David frowned and focused on the words as he stepped into the library doorway.

“♫‘Cause I can’t breathe; No, I can’t sleep; I’m barely hanging on♫”

“Bella?” He hadn’t meant to interrupt, but the words bothered him.

She yanked her hands off the piano and jumped slightly. “David. You scared me.”

“I didn’t know you played.” He chickened out and instead of asking her about the song he said the first thing that came to mind. At least it worked as a conversation starter.

“Um, yeah. Took lessons as a child. It was kind of what made me fall in love with singing.”

David walked over and sat on the bench beside her. “I love hearing you sing. I hadn’t meant for you to stop.”

“No, it’s okay. I was just messing around. Couldn’t really sleep.”

“I feel like that’s my fault.”

“What? Why would you think that?” Bella’s eyebrows raised with curiosity.

“Because I let us go to bed upset with one another. I should’ve just listened to you.”

“I get it. You don’t trust him. Just wished you trusted me.”

Where the hell had she gotten the idea he found her untrustworthy? David gripped the back of his neck. He was an idiot. By staking a claim with a kiss the way he had, he’d acted like he had no trust in her. Of course, he trusted her. More than anyone else he knew. Bella had been the only person who’d ever been honest with him. She’d always been truthful to him. “I’m sorry. I’ve acted like a jerk. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Only if you can forgive me. Jeremiah’s part of my past and I haven’t exactly been forthcoming about how our relationship ended. I should’ve told you.”

“I don’t need to know the details. I flipped out because we haven’t labeled our relationship. It doesn’t matter if he looked or not. And you’re right, I should apologize to him. I can take the higher road.” David smiled and tucked some of her hair behind her ear.

“You mean that?”

“I do.”

Bella leaned up and pressed a tender kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you. Now, what do you say we play one more song on this thing?”

“I’d like that.”

After the dire song she’d sang, they needed something with more hope. David smiled and lightly stroked the piano keys. “♫Walk blindly to the light and reach out for his hand; Don’t ask any questions and don’t try to understand; Open up your mind and then open up your heart; And you will see that you and me aren’t very far apart; ‘Cause I believe that love is the answer; I believe that love will find the way♫”