We drove home in silence, but I knew Christian wasn’t okay with what just happened. But this was better than him screaming at me like he had planned to before he realized how he sounded.430Please respect copyright.PENANAOdDeDjVsPt
430Please respect copyright.PENANAnsTQuInaIy
“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked, glancing over at him.430Please respect copyright.PENANAiWfSt0h6YP
430Please respect copyright.PENANAKDlAYICict
He blinked and said, “I think we should. We should have a special first date since you agreed to go out with me.”430Please respect copyright.PENANAM2qbiyxTEs
430Please respect copyright.PENANAhtYfFQrzBa
“Since you badgered me, you mean? Wait, wait, that’s not what I was talking about. I hate when you do that.”430Please respect copyright.PENANAFjPZlkNP11
430Please respect copyright.PENANAw6m1L7OcMf
The smallest of muscle twitches in Christian’s jaw indicated what I knew was coming. I was prepared for the yelling, because he had this stupid short-temper. But what I wasn’t prepared for was him pulling the car over and stopping.430Please respect copyright.PENANAOOOk78wlBZ
430Please respect copyright.PENANAoK1UX2jwiE
“Do you even want to go out with me?”430Please respect copyright.PENANAfw7xpvYqBK
430Please respect copyright.PENANAziqjPcNpyf
I stared at him, my eyes wide. “Why would you ask me that? If I didn’t I’d say so.”430Please respect copyright.PENANAU1van3BQ7j
430Please respect copyright.PENANAEwFraIZz3M
“Then why,” he started, his eyes connecting with mine, “did you say yes now? Why not days ago when you were going through stuff and I kissed you?”430Please respect copyright.PENANA5F2SgUurgD
430Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZAHTbQqez
“Why does any of this matter?” I snapped. “I said yes and you’re getting what you wanted. Aren’t you happy?”430Please respect copyright.PENANAfQVrhQYKC2
430Please respect copyright.PENANAdcj5JQamnp
“I just want to know―”430Please respect copyright.PENANAQWlIs1MlSy
430Please respect copyright.PENANAbSe4xaL2yF
“Fine!” I shouted, startling him. “Do you really want to know? I thought if I ignored how I felt about you that it would make things better, but it’s not. Every time you kiss or touch me, I want to cry; because I’m scared of what you’ll think of me when you know the truth.”430Please respect copyright.PENANAvIpsgt5uuP
430Please respect copyright.PENANAgsPgzY3xDb
All I could hear after the last word left my mouth was his breathing, even and paced, and the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. I didn’t want him to go away. He was my only safe place.430Please respect copyright.PENANAjPnjE9zJmG
430Please respect copyright.PENANANC9VdhqRz3
“I told you I was going to help you,” he said softly, gazing at me. He undid his seatbelt and reached for me, crushing my body against his in a brutal hug. “You’re the only good thing I have, Kendall. I’m going to keep you whether you want to be kept or not.”430Please respect copyright.PENANArGXL4sa9Od
430Please respect copyright.PENANAeZknxajm4K
I closed my eyes as I laid my head against his chest.430Please respect copyright.PENANAw3leAJfnjF
430Please respect copyright.PENANAIDqaViQ7Hq
430Please respect copyright.PENANABMt2fE8T0v
430Please respect copyright.PENANAAfbrdUvGdG
The next time my eyes opened, I was screaming. I was screaming and crying into the darkness with no idea of where I was. Staggering up, I stumbled; panic seizing my chest, across what I hoped was a room. I felt out in front of me for a wall.430Please respect copyright.PENANAIX6a6OeHoi
430Please respect copyright.PENANAdwGkdi24VD
Somewhere, a door let in footsteps. When it closed, the person drew closer. Hands reached out and pulled me close, holding me so that I stopped trembling. The screams had stopped but I hardly noticed.430Please respect copyright.PENANAwMNoJ6Uba7
430Please respect copyright.PENANA4KIxYl2FB7
“It’s okay,” a voice said. “Come on and sit down. Jesus.”430Please respect copyright.PENANAn2JgkuHlzS
430Please respect copyright.PENANAJaSI7FvVih
I could feel my body starting to shut down. I slid away from the shadow and fell onto the floor, trying to calm down.430Please respect copyright.PENANARtzFKusa1y
430Please respect copyright.PENANAqoYvuzuTId
“Kendall.” The voice was so full of concern, and as he wrapped his hands around me, I knew who he was. “You have to tell me what happened.”430Please respect copyright.PENANAFFGvEePwuQ
430Please respect copyright.PENANAuh4sZsTIM9
He was so close I could feel him, so I touched where his face was, and drew his lips toward mine. He didn’t resist as I kissed him, my fingers tangling in his dark hair. I heard him sigh contently as he kissed back.430Please respect copyright.PENANALdpfMxVOUq
430Please respect copyright.PENANAGavkuoDDdJ
“You’re safe,” Christian whispered against my mouth. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”430Please respect copyright.PENANAGNYDCg3ROC
430Please respect copyright.PENANA5sx8dRsjrR
I wish he knew how false his promise was. 430Please respect copyright.PENANA10oe0UmDSt