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.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI18RAjlCk
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“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked, glancing over at him.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL8d5lt2nc
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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.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn8EuzFQjV
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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.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FFaVZCH01
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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.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTIhAUxCbM
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“Do you even want to go out with me?”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbo8ykUXel
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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.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaV1tRtTtg
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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?”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFMzO6s2w6
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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?”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24b553ZJvs
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“I just want to know―”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnl8TzAFD8
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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.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchSQGmg4z2
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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.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwYRugdyKV
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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.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb2gKFnRuO
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I closed my eyes as I laid my head against his chest.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zTAkgSdx1
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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.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4gzHLdYyf
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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.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p35RnHrih
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“It’s okay,” a voice said. “Come on and sit down. Jesus.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomO8DtUpIh
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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.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC1kAwoPll
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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.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ0d9DkHqN
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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.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNP73pbvDO9
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“You’re safe,” Christian whispered against my mouth. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA27e6mgjgZ
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I wish he knew how false his promise was. 426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisgGe8sCSa
