Chapter 23: Crossing The Line

Orlando barely has time to straighten fully before I launch myself at him and throw my arms around his neck, squeezing tight. I kiss him on one cheek, then the other, then the first cheek again. I want to cover his face in kisses, but I pull back before I let myself do anything too inappropriate.

"Thank you," I tell him. "You have no idea what this means to us." I know I'm supposed to be angry, or at least slightly offended - my family never asked for his charity, and he did it without even a word to me - but I can't seem to muster even the tiniest bit of outrage. In fact, I'm pretty sure I feel tears welling up in my eyes, as embarrassing as that is.

Orlando hasn't moved. He's so warm, so solid, and for a moment I'm overwhelmed by that delicious, manly scent of him. My heart is beating so fast that I wouldn't be surprised if he can feel it where our chests are pressed together. I want to hold onto him forever, to forget my despair of the last few days and weeks and months and lose m