"That I——"
"That you——?"
"Don't!"
"That you love me?"
Silence interspersed with sobs, then—
"I don't love you, but I—could——"
"What?"
"Love you—but I mustn't."
Leavesley heaved a deep sigh of content, squeezed her closer and rocked her slightly. She allowed herself to be nursed like this for a few heavenly moments; then she broke away from him, pushed him away.
"I mustn't, I mustn't—don't!—do leave me alone—go away." She increased the distance between them. Tears were on her long black lashes—lashes tipped with brown—and her eyes were like passion flowers after rain—to use a simile that has never been used before.