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.289Please respect copyright.PENANALM9Oh3F2ox
289Please respect copyright.PENANA1y4Z0oEbPm
“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked, glancing over at him.289Please respect copyright.PENANA0vn9fvDkZh
289Please respect copyright.PENANAE0mNJLMput
He blinked and said, “I think we should. We should have a special first date since you agreed to go out with me.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAzo26xiWNKy
289Please respect copyright.PENANAHJq6qOnBfs
“Since you badgered me, you mean? Wait, wait, that’s not what I was talking about. I hate when you do that.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAkOs2XQwqER
289Please respect copyright.PENANAkumCmyG4eo
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.289Please respect copyright.PENANA2sjzZXw0kz
289Please respect copyright.PENANAvh8awjW0yQ
“Do you even want to go out with me?”289Please respect copyright.PENANAmzWvv7KaAf
289Please respect copyright.PENANAq8NfXZep5g
I stared at him, my eyes wide. “Why would you ask me that? If I didn’t I’d say so.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAEN1opiZQ8S
289Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0pZx784p8
“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?”289Please respect copyright.PENANAaSLBpQU1Ft
289Please respect copyright.PENANAcJfcqKSWG2
“Why does any of this matter?” I snapped. “I said yes and you’re getting what you wanted. Aren’t you happy?”289Please respect copyright.PENANAxNPh3jor19
289Please respect copyright.PENANA2EuB5A2qkt
“I just want to know―”289Please respect copyright.PENANAgYT6iJMzRT
289Please respect copyright.PENANAE3tphWIrQI
“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.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAhnqz25Olaa
289Please respect copyright.PENANARV1OJQh6K8
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.289Please respect copyright.PENANAZSLv2zhMA8
289Please respect copyright.PENANA5Et2mnIa5P
“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.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAWrEghruuv9
289Please respect copyright.PENANAdH6BPCCeUh
I closed my eyes as I laid my head against his chest.289Please respect copyright.PENANAgR6zxpyzvz
289Please respect copyright.PENANA5V2ES1AXgy
289Please respect copyright.PENANArd1GOBHIRO
289Please respect copyright.PENANAso1JWnXxmE
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.289Please respect copyright.PENANAr5pxJ3uXJa
289Please respect copyright.PENANAineBmS7WWz
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.289Please respect copyright.PENANAV8qEy6Q2OP
289Please respect copyright.PENANAOZQMV7jgjV
“It’s okay,” a voice said. “Come on and sit down. Jesus.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAFhqIc9ZdBp
289Please respect copyright.PENANA8nSkdCHR3k
I could feel my body starting to shut down. I slid away from the shadow and fell onto the floor, trying to calm down.289Please respect copyright.PENANAjvnDiQV4OR
289Please respect copyright.PENANAeFR8qp9LIJ
“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.”289Please respect copyright.PENANAvLpgPHI8rO
289Please respect copyright.PENANAlJf0e288J5
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.289Please respect copyright.PENANAln6MneYw4b
289Please respect copyright.PENANAShmUF3u8cN
“You’re safe,” Christian whispered against my mouth. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”289Please respect copyright.PENANASqPJU4ZFXe
289Please respect copyright.PENANAge9pVkyGHY
I wish he knew how false his promise was. 289Please respect copyright.PENANAYvHwtTDhlf