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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAiWiAHAqYBK
“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked, glancing over at him.249Please respect copyright.PENANATlofqLcqdt
249Please respect copyright.PENANAh3MM8YBU3y
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAYr75D90Dh6
“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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAW7Susj85D7
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAm63wdVHNFo
“Do you even want to go out with me?”249Please respect copyright.PENANA5vQYvhbnvU
249Please respect copyright.PENANAELULD04cqs
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAP6vmvhOxIM
“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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAQvCpRzWjY5
“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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9WKEcbkvr
“I just want to know―”249Please respect copyright.PENANAWtdLOpA5Tv
249Please respect copyright.PENANAtDGou1i1Ti
“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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAFerjBsAD3V
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAdZDHlzmc3A
“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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAYK52EQUeuP
I closed my eyes as I laid my head against his chest.249Please respect copyright.PENANAex7U937Wid
249Please respect copyright.PENANAiU1fcxqF6d
249Please respect copyright.PENANADkGYetxDTt
249Please respect copyright.PENANA3HyGYecCd5
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANA87jEMLMG8E
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAN0ll8HBMMr
“It’s okay,” a voice said. “Come on and sit down. Jesus.”249Please respect copyright.PENANAR44dxWP9qt
249Please respect copyright.PENANA32KJBmg51d
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANA6LerI22jzo
“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
249Please respect copyright.PENANAn2hfdyGg6y
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
249Please respect copyright.PENANA4wSMvUbThp
“You’re safe,” Christian whispered against my mouth. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”249Please respect copyright.PENANATgQVazA4n8
249Please respect copyright.PENANAgChXwefYDE
I wish he knew how false his promise was. 249Please respect copyright.PENANAId7Tmp1327