Blurb:
If you had the ability to heal with just one touch, the capability to absorb other’s pain by making it your own, would you do it?The gratifying feeling she gets from helping others intoxicates Ally; the glowing warmth within constantly simmers, incessant on bursting free. Ally was born to do this, but how much more damage can her body take?
Theo finds himself getting close to the girl that continues to inflict pain on herself. When he discovers her secret, his overwhelming concern drives him to do everything in his power to prevent Ally from getting hurt, no matter how lovely her intentions are.
Theo also has secrets and will take any measure to keep them hidden from the girl he is falling in love with. He knows better than to let her get too close. She can never find out the information he conceals because she cannot help him anyway.
Devastating circumstances. Helpless love. Where there's a will, is there actually a way?
~Excerpt~
Ally
Like every other day this week, I sit in the shadow of the oak trees, drinking up the site of ‘Mr. Hottie’ kicking around the footy. He is the same guy I lost my sanity over the first day I came to this beautiful park. Even though he is here every day, he doesn’t notice me. Each day I get a little more confident, inching closer towards where the shadows end, and the sunlight begins to bathe the open fields. I haven’t quite made it into the light yet though.
His muscles flex as he runs, and the glistening sweat on his skin lures me in. My body moves on its own accord, slanting in his direction. I imagine his smell, all manly and salty from the sweat, and daydream of licking the trails of it down his body with my tongue. I breathe in deeply, but I am not near enough, and all I smell is the freshly cut grass of the fields.
I find myself standing up, and as I step out into the light, it jars me out of my trance. It’s too late to turn back and hide as my shadow crosses his line of vision, and I am rooted to the spot. I am so close I could reach out and touch him.
My heart rate spikes as he turns around. It feels like my tongue is thick and swelling, filling my whole mouth. I know I should stop staring and look away, but I can’t. He is gorgeous.
My eyes lock with his. They are a stunning green, and sparkle like wet grass after a rain shower with the sun gleaming off it. He holds my gaze, and it’s as though he is looking right into my soul. His jaw drops in disbelief, and I feel panic bubble up inside me. Does he somehow know my secret? No, it’s impossible. I break the connection and shake the thought away.
Theo
My mouth is hanging open in disbelief. I have just turned around to find the most stunning woman in existence. Is she real? Stepping closer, I can’t help but blurt, "You are the most exquisite angel I have ever seen." I am thoroughly awestruck by her beauty. Chocolate coloured locks flow around her face. Thick dark lashes frame her eyes, and they are so deep and blue that I could get lost in them; when she smiles after the compliment I gave her, they are utterly dazzling. Her lips are full and she is biting on the bottom one, sucking it in to her mouth, and it is driving me just a tad crazy. She looks ethereal. There’s a mysterious electricity crackling in the air between us. My breath stills as I wait for her reply while I continue to take her in.
She flushes a light shade of pink then softly replies, “Thank you. My name is Ally." Her melodic voice floors me. She sounds angelic. A faint vanilla fragrance fills my nose, making me feel a little dizzy. Maybe I over did the whole exercise thing today.
Have I died and gone to heaven without even knowing it happened? Did something just transpire back there on that field? I start to turn around to see if I have left my body behind, when out of nowhere, my brother Alex swiftly throws the football at my head and knocks some sense into me in the process.
What the fuck was that? I just turned into a bloody puddle of mush. I know after what I have been through that I am more emotional than most guys, but come on, that was messed up.
I risk glancing back up at her. Shit, I’m screwed. This chick has some kind of strange hold on me. Just standing there as an idiot proves to be about the only thing I can do.
“Hey. I’m Alex, and this smooth talker here is my brother, Theo.” Alex winks, and then extends his hand out, offering to shake hers. He has a way of putting any situation back at ease.
She looks dubiously at his outstretched hand, decides to ignore it, and shyly answers, “Hi, I’m Ally. I’m sorry to get in the way of your football game. I was just leaving.” She looks past us into the distance and finishes by saying, “Enjoy the rest of your game.” Then she steps around me and hurries off.
I spin around, gaping after her as she walks away. She stops at a young boy crying by the play structure. I didn’t notice him at first because all my attention stayed focused solely on her. Crouching down, she places her hand on his knee and relays what I can only assume are soothing words because his tears dry up. I wonder where the boy’s mother is.
Jogging over to give Ally some assistance, I spot blood dripping from a deep cut on her knee. “Oh my god, your knee is bleeding. Are you okay?”
She seems startled by my presence. The young boy is looking back and forth between the two of us, his mouth wide open. Ally seems to have the same effect on him that she did on me; maybe he thinks she is an angel too.
Jessica Louise is a hopeless romantic and the epitome of a girly girl. She thinks pink is the new black and that hair crimpers never went out of fashion.
In her spare time she enjoys the simple things in life like the smell of the air before the rain or a swim at the beach on a hot summer’s day.
She is an avid reader and an aspiring writer, who believes whole heartedly in the old English proverb; the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
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