Taming the Beast novel Chapter 21

"I'm sorry, Care. I forgot how... new that still is to you. I didn't mean to upset you or remind you. It just sort of... slipped out. Please stop crying," he begged. My brother hated crying unless it was coming from Preston. He also hated making me upset... almost more than he hated crying. Keegan walked further into my room and tucked my hair behind my ear and out of my face gently. He smiled lightly as he knelt beside the bed.

"Hey," he practically whispered. He stood and got in on the other side of my bed. He pulled me up into a sitting position and opened his arms for me. "Come here," he said softly. I didn't hesitate. I crawled over his lap and buried my head into his chest as I grabbed my stuffed bear and clutched it tightly to my chest. It was a bear my parents gave me. I'd always grab it when I missed them or when I'd get upset. Keegan's arms went around me as he rested his back against the headboard. He rubbed my back gently as I continued to cry. He didn't say a word. He just held me, which was fine by me. He shushed me lightly as I sobbed into his neck. Being in his arms actually made me feel better. It was like warmth spread through my body, calming me. Once my sobs stopped, I just sat there across Keegan's lap. I didn't want to move. I was embarrassed enough as it was because of last night and breakfast this morning. Keegan started humming to me lightly. And he actually wasn't half bad. His voice was decent, or at least his humming voice was. He trailed off and let out a breath, his hand still rubbing my back. I finally lifted my head to look at him. His hand released from around me and he wiped my wet cheeks with his thumbs.

"Better?" he asked. I nodded slowly.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend?" I asked him hoarsely. He sighed and caught my chin so I was looking directly at him.

"I'm here because I care about you... and she's not my girlfriend anymore," he answered. My eyes bulged. He broke up with her last night?! Oh crap, she was going to kill me. I looked away from him as I processed all of this information.