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.428Please respect copyright.PENANApu7ne86kkB
428Please respect copyright.PENANA2xEOUbru1d
“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked, glancing over at him.428Please respect copyright.PENANAK6Q0jyhxrB
428Please respect copyright.PENANA86G4lykceP
He blinked and said, “I think we should. We should have a special first date since you agreed to go out with me.”428Please respect copyright.PENANAxxDoFOo3hW
428Please respect copyright.PENANAAmsAMt7npa
“Since you badgered me, you mean? Wait, wait, that’s not what I was talking about. I hate when you do that.”428Please respect copyright.PENANA9PtDU4VYgJ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAlRoLaPG1UQ
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.428Please respect copyright.PENANAlEuvDSGuf6
428Please respect copyright.PENANAy9RvdFzuJF
“Do you even want to go out with me?”428Please respect copyright.PENANAr2LlYBc2zT
428Please respect copyright.PENANAZdiPGm5zrW
I stared at him, my eyes wide. “Why would you ask me that? If I didn’t I’d say so.”428Please respect copyright.PENANAvognE9JQcD
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2r272Q6QZ
“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?”428Please respect copyright.PENANAxQBiqwH297
428Please respect copyright.PENANA8UHq01z1qv
“Why does any of this matter?” I snapped. “I said yes and you’re getting what you wanted. Aren’t you happy?”428Please respect copyright.PENANAqgs7SLop0g
428Please respect copyright.PENANAma46mOpJIb
“I just want to know―”428Please respect copyright.PENANA01Q64RHwag
428Please respect copyright.PENANAx0QfLol7vz
“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.”428Please respect copyright.PENANARgCTMGtRSi
428Please respect copyright.PENANAvqHRDraag9
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.428Please respect copyright.PENANALNIDn3iMLU
428Please respect copyright.PENANAlKryreAHCi
“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.”428Please respect copyright.PENANAxWAXPtFNlZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANASFx4K9Gxno
I closed my eyes as I laid my head against his chest.428Please respect copyright.PENANAlqN2OvqCTR
428Please respect copyright.PENANAlV0qHsqIwL
428Please respect copyright.PENANAz5aGnaNDaV
428Please respect copyright.PENANAfeS0tYIqo8
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.428Please respect copyright.PENANA9dz81KmZjK
428Please respect copyright.PENANARmnU0fyY1G
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.428Please respect copyright.PENANAWn1yxFnivf
428Please respect copyright.PENANAAeGPvxJVT4
“It’s okay,” a voice said. “Come on and sit down. Jesus.”428Please respect copyright.PENANAYCvgm2McuX
428Please respect copyright.PENANAasKqGsZjsH
I could feel my body starting to shut down. I slid away from the shadow and fell onto the floor, trying to calm down.428Please respect copyright.PENANAGUOFs8AoxG
428Please respect copyright.PENANAOIjIyQdcns
“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.”428Please respect copyright.PENANArMyvL4IacR
428Please respect copyright.PENANAF47Ye2Abby
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.428Please respect copyright.PENANAkNjqN6hE8b
428Please respect copyright.PENANA7oNMMDiaco
“You’re safe,” Christian whispered against my mouth. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”428Please respect copyright.PENANA9VQPXz06qG
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdeHFHaEfbp
I wish he knew how false his promise was. 428Please respect copyright.PENANAIE5t7vbUbe