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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLmni1b8lG
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“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked, glancing over at him.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbA5KfOSPm
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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.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScNRcjvyEb
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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.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIcOgkcOOx
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xSVTXiMmz
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2mOV1m9Rt
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“Do you even want to go out with me?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMCdaKLlTe
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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.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IVd6q8GkY
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFojE7C2rUK
“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?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc0fzuCfIH
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYrs0srk94
“Why does any of this matter?” I snapped. “I said yes and you’re getting what you wanted. Aren’t you happy?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoL5TCTWrD
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“I just want to know―”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKcjjA5VAY
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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.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsz0Lwo4Bi
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrv4Guwdb6
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZVlXqzuLd
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75gl7DIL9s
“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.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFtrC0ImxY
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifciCSMLVR
I closed my eyes as I laid my head against his chest.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVQt7B74kw
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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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNnLh5t3x4
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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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQSbxPw8PJ
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“It’s okay,” a voice said. “Come on and sit down. Jesus.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoy8iQGt13
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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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VSDMXyFGA
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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.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQnTwmOhbx
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMHhm0rBio
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpc8dNxfTH
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“You’re safe,” Christian whispered against my mouth. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIxL6JGd3l
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I wish he knew how false his promise was. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aDPifxsXM
