Sharing Her Heart

Chapter 1

Chapter One

F elicity sighed with relief as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. As she watched her fourth graders scramble to grab their belongings, she couldn’t help but smile with relief. She loved her job, but after a full week of keeping the ten-year-olds in line, she was more than ready for a break. Teaching, especially to kids that age, was like trying to harness the energy of a tornado and locking it in a bottle. It was rewarding but exhausting.

At just twenty-three, Felicity felt both young and old at the same time. Young because she had the rest of her life to achieve all her dreams and plans, to do the things she yearned for—like write that romance novel she’d always wanted, travel to far and exotic places, and maybe someday fall in love with a man who would treat her like the character in her stories. But she also felt old because she already felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders daily.

There were bills to be paid, lesson plans to figure out, and children who needed as much guidance as they did actual teaching. Every lesson plan, scraped knee, and parent-teacher conference added up, and she’d slowly found herself falling into set routines that left little space and time for excitement in her life. She loved teaching her young children, but it was somewhat sad to admit that the most exciting thing that had happened to her in a while was finally getting every student in her class to understand their decimals.

As she locked up her classroom, Felicity’s thoughts drifted to the evening ahead. She couldn’t wait to kick off her shoes, curl up on the couch, and sip a cup of hot chocolate. But more than anything, she looked forward to listening to her favorite podcast. Between the Lines was her weekly escape—a book podcast hosted by two men who discussed the latest romance novels and shared their thoughts on relationships, life, and the occasional absurdity of modern dating.

She first discovered Between the Lines in college, when life had been anything but romantic. Felicity had always been a hopeless romantic, devouring romance novels ever since she was ten years old. Those stories of love at first sight, of grand gestures and sweeping declarations, had been her sanctuary. No matter what was happening in the real world, she could escape into the magical worlds where people met and fell in love in the most serendipitous of ways.

But college had brought its own set of challenges. Between the heavy course load, endless projects, and the stress of exams, her once-beloved hobby had slipped further and further down her list of priorities until she barely had time to read novels. That was when she stumbled upon Between the Lines .

It was an accident, really. One late night in the campus library, feeling frazzled from a week of studying, she searched for something—anything—to break the monotony. When she saw the title of a familiar romance novel in the episode description, she hit play, not knowing how much that simple action would change her life.

From the moment Nathan and John began reading from one of her favorite books, Felicity was hooked. Nathan's deep, steady voice had a way of grounding her, drawing her into the world of the story with a reassuring calm. John, with his warm and playful tone, brought each scene to life with a lightness that made the characters feel real. Together, their voices were magic, weaving stories of love and heartache that kept Felicity riveted.

It wasn’t just that they read the novels she adored; it was the way they discussed the characters, the plots, and the emotions with such passion and insight. Listening to Nathan and John wasn’t just about keeping up with her favorite hobby—it became a way for her to experience her love for romance in a whole new form. She found herself laughing along with their banter, blushing at the way they read steamy scenes with just the right amount of tension, and eagerly awaiting each new episode.

She drove out of the school’s parking lot, eager to get home and get started on the latest episode from Nathan and John. She had gotten the email notification reminding her about it during class; like she was going to forget. The best part was that there was an Easter egg somewhere in the episode with a reward for the lucky winner. Felicity was determined to make that reward hers. Last year, she missed out on a gift basket because she didn’t respond to the contest in time. She was not making the same mistake this year

Driving home, she groaned when she saw a traffic jam in front of her and prayed it was nothing serious. Drumming her fingers against the steering wheel as her car slowly inched forward, she glanced at her phone plugged in on her dashboard. She already had the episode queued and ready to play. Ideally, she would have loved to listen to it under the blanket with her favorite mug of hot chocolate and the current book being read opened on her lap so she could follow along, but now? Now she couldn’t wait.

“Oh, what the hell,” she muttered with a grin as she reached for her phone and connected it to the car speakers. No law said she couldn’t listen to it now and again when she got home.

She checked to make sure that her windows were rolled up. The podcast could get pretty steamy and explicit, and she’d once made the mistake of listening to it on full blast with one of her windows not rolled all the way up. She would never forget the look of shock on the face of the driver next to her. Of course, Felicity had been mortified, and the memory still made her blush to that day.

The episode started, and she felt a wave of excitement wash over her when she heard Nathan’s voice fill the car. Deep and steady, his cadence did something to her. It made her feel things no man she’d met had quite managed to do.

“Last time, we left our heroine on the brink of giving in to her desires for the mysterious stranger she met in Paris,” he said. “If you missed the last episode, here’s a quick recap. She’s torn between her loyalty to her fiancé and the undeniable chemistry with this man who has stirred something deep inside her.”

John’s voice chimed in next, playful as ever. “And if you remember, that kiss in the rain? Whew, we all needed a cold shower after that one.” Felicity couldn’t help but smile at his teasing tone. “Today’s chapter... well, let’s just say things heat even more.”

Felicity’s breath caught as they launched into the narration of the new chapter. She already knew what was coming. The story had been building toward this moment—when the heroine finally gives in to her desires, trapped in a small Parisian apartment with the man she could no longer resist.

Nathan’s steady voice narrated the beginning of the scene, describing the tension between the characters in vivid detail, while John’s lighter tone layered in the dialogue, capturing the heat of their stolen moments. The way they took turns, bouncing off each other’s energy, made the scene feel even more intimate. Felicity found herself hanging on every word.

In her head, she could see the scene as clear as day. She watched as the hero and heroine circled each other in the tiny apartment, pulled in closer and closer by their attraction. Of course in her head, she was the heroine on a whirlwind adventure in Paris. She was the one being looked at as an object of desire. The one fighting the urge to leap at the hero across the room and beg him to do the things he’d been promising to do with his eyes all evening.

“…don’t blame me for this,” the hero growled in Nathan’s deep voice, and Felicity felt her stomach twist and pull, heat sliding down her spine. “You were the one who demanded I bring you here. The one who insisted you wanted to stay in Paris.”

“I didn’t want this either,” John hissed in the heroine’s voice, and Felicity imagined herself brave and arrogant, too proud to admit her attraction to this annoying man. “I didn’t have a choice…”

The scene continued, and she moved the car along, doing her best to keep up with the traffic and the story playing out in her head. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel as the descriptions grew more explicit, her body reacting instinctively to the moment's intensity. The heroine’s desire mirrored her own, and Felicity could feel the tension building, her heartbeat quickening with each word. The chemistry between the characters was palpable, brought to life by Nathan’s and John’s seamless narration.

She tried to focus on the road, but her mind was wrapped up in the scene. As they narrated the heroine’s surrender to passion, Felicity felt a wave of heat course through her, making it impossible to ignore the pull in her own body. Her skin tingled, her breath shallow as the sensuality of the scene heightened.

“Fuck this,” the hero exclaimed. “This is what you want? Is this what you want?” he demanded as he grabbed the heroine and crushed his lips against her.

Felicity slipped further into the fantasy, Nathan’s and John’s voices twin ropes that pulled her deeper and deeper until there was no escape. Nathan's deep voice described the heroine finally giving in, succumbing to the intense attraction that had been simmering for so long. John picked up the dialogue, bringing the scene to life, and Felicity could feel the heat rising in her own body.

She shifted in her seat, her pulse quickening as the sensual details of the scene became more explicit. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel, trying to keep her focus, but the electricity in the air was undeniable. The combination of their voices, the vivid descriptions, and her own pent-up excitement made it harder and harder to concentrate on the road.

Her breath hitched as the heroine's passion reached its peak, and Felicity could feel her own reaction building in response. The tension was palpable, each word drawing her deeper into the story. Her legs clenched involuntarily, and she fought to keep her foot steady on the gas pedal, her body reacting to the charged moment in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

“Oh God,” she whispered, her voice shaky, barely aware of the traffic anymore. She could feel the pressure inside her building, the story enveloping her completely. Every breath she took felt heavier, her skin tingling with the same intensity playing out in the novel.

As her car crawled forward, she let out a soft gasp, her body trembling as she struggled to maintain control—both of the vehicle and herself. The moment between the characters in the story was too powerful, too real, and Felicity could feel her grip on reality slipping. It was tempting to slide her hand down between her legs. With Nathan’s and John’s voices in her head, she would need nothing but a touch to push her over the edge.

It wouldn’t be the first time she’d orgasmed listening to the voice of her favorite book narrators, but never in her car. She was dimly aware of the cars around her and wondered if anyone could tell what was happening when they looked at her. It was hard to care at that point.

Closing her legs tighter in an attempt to stave off the climax she could already feel growing deep in her core, she only ended up making the problem worse. Her body tensed, the heat building and building until with a soft, involuntary cry, she felt the release wash over her, leaving her breathless.

For a moment, everything blurred. Her hands still gripped the wheel, and the episode continued to play in the background as her body settled, but her heart raced. She blinked, slowly becoming aware of the road again, cars still moving steadily around her. Felicity let out a shaky breath, her face flushed with a mixture of disbelief and lingering pleasure.

She glanced at the road ahead, her body still tingling. She had never expected that. The traffic moved, and she drove her car forward, her heart racing from the unexpected moment. She turned up the AC, and the cool air helped calm her down some more, though the warmth from the story lingered.

Nathan’s and John’s voices remained steady, now guiding her back into the flow of the story as they wrapped up the chapter.

“As intense as that scene was,” Nathan said, his voice thoughtful, “you really get the sense that this relationship isn’t just about physical attraction. There’s something deeper even though they’re fighting it.”

“Absolutely,” John chimed in. “It’s about trust and vulnerability. She’s opening herself up in ways she didn’t even realize she needed. That kind of connection? It’s rare.”

Felicity smiled as she listened to them analyze the characters. It was one of her favorite things about the podcast—not just the readings but the way Nathan and John dissected the emotions and psychology behind the stories. It made the novels feel more real, like they were peeling back the layers of the characters to reveal something true about love and relationships.

The podcast continued as traffic moved faster, and she was moving freely down the road again, moving from romance novels to romance in general. Between the Lines didn’t just talk about romance novels, but romance in general, giving their listeners dating and relationship advice and tips. They also told the best story, and Felicity found herself laughing several times as the episode continued.

“And now,” Nathan said as she approached her house, his voice lighter, “for the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Our giveaway contest!”

Felicity perked up, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. She had been hoping they’d announce the details tonight.

“That’s right,” John added with a playful tone. “One lucky listener will win the opportunity to have dinner with us. We’ll fly you out to meet us and talk books over a nice meal.”

Felicity could hardly contain her excitement as she turned onto her street, her apartment building coming into view. She had been listening to Between the Lines for years, and the thought of meeting Nathan and John in person sent a thrill through her. She pulled into a parking space in front of her building but kept the car running, eager to hear the contest details.

“To win,” Nathan explained, “you need to answer a question about one of our episodes from last year. If you’ve been a loyal listener, this should be an easy one.”

John cleared his throat dramatically. “The question is: In the episode where we reviewed A Heart Divided , Nathan mentioned that one of the chapters in the book reminded him of a scene in an ’80s movie. What scene is that and what chapter was it? Drop your answer in the comments on our social media page.”

Felicity’s mind raced. A Heart Divided —she remembered that episode vividly. She had been glued to it, especially the part where they discussed the heroine’s heart-wrenching decision.

“And remember,” Nathan added, “the winner will be chosen at random from those who answer correctly, so don’t stress too much. Just make sure you comment with the right answer on our social media pages.”

The answer came to her in a flash. She turned off the engine and grabbed her phone, already typing the answer as she headed into her apartment building. Her heart pounded with excitement as she hit send, not surprised to already see dozens of answers similar to hers. Crossing her fingers, she prayed she was the lucky one to win it this time. The idea of meeting Nathan and John, the voices she’d come to love over the years, felt surreal. It would be the best thing to happen to her all year. Maybe even all her life…

Two days later, Felicity was lounging on her couch grading papers when her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, assuming it was another notification about a sale or a group message from her friends. But then her eyes widened when she saw that it was a message from her Instagram page.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was from the Between the Lines page, and she quickly set aside the papers she was grading and grabbed her phone, swiping to open the notification. There, sitting in her inbox, was a message from the podcast’s official account. Her hands trembled slightly as she tapped on the message.

"Congratulations, Felicity! You’re the lucky winner of our dinner contest! We’re excited to meet you and spend an evening talking books, romance, and everything in between. We’ll be reaching out soon to coordinate details, but for now, feel free to celebrate! You’ve earned it! "

Felicity stared at the message, her heart pounding in disbelief. She blinked, reading it again just to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.

“I won…” she whispered to herself, her voice breathless. She actually won. They had chosen her out of all the people who must’ve entered. She couldn’t believe she was going to meet Nathan and John in person, the two voices that had brought her so much joy over the years.

She quickly snapped out of her daze and scrambled to reply.

"Oh my God, thank you so much! I’m beyond excited! I can’t wait to meet you guys! "

She hit send and fell back against the couch, hugging her phone to her chest as she stared at the ceiling, her mind already spinning with thoughts about the dinner. Would they be as charming in person? What would she wear? Would she be able to keep her cool when she finally met them face-to-face? There was so much to do and worry about, but she was too excited to care about any of that for now.