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.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXllN5ghiWM
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“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked, glancing over at him.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlofqLcqdt
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He blinked and said, “I think we should. We should have a special first date since you agreed to go out with me.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcLOxQ7YoB
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“Since you badgered me, you mean? Wait, wait, that’s not what I was talking about. I hate when you do that.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48t3YCv3Mp
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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.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmciI4ekZg
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“Do you even want to go out with me?”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vQYvhbnvU
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I stared at him, my eyes wide. “Why would you ask me that? If I didn’t I’d say so.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCajZ15XWQa
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“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?”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFxZD6JJYe
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“Why does any of this matter?” I snapped. “I said yes and you’re getting what you wanted. Aren’t you happy?”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRptAIMpNBF
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“I just want to know―”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtdLOpA5Tv
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“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.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnjNwEh1jz
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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.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qqhBKiQW4
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“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.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCgEjeav4f
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I closed my eyes as I laid my head against his chest.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex7U937Wid
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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.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmm1zGf1YJ
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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.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ6GG7kTIl
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“It’s okay,” a voice said. “Come on and sit down. Jesus.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR44dxWP9qt
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I could feel my body starting to shut down. I slid away from the shadow and fell onto the floor, trying to calm down.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNPibWEXay
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“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.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLZAAKAvzr
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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.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7y9R91fS7
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“You’re safe,” Christian whispered against my mouth. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgQVazA4n8
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I wish he knew how false his promise was. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId7Tmp1327
