“What did you want me to ask?”
He tips his head to the side. “How I found you, and ran your car off the road?”
Ricky is right. I never even thought to ask how he found where I was. I just assumed he had connections everywhere and I knew it wouldn’t be long before he caught up with me, but, what’s strange is that I was ran off the road after meeting up with Ellie. Theories begin to swirl in my mind, questions and answers that I don’t want to accept and Ricky can see the confusion and anguish all over my face.
“Are you finally putting it together now, sweetheart?”
“You’re lying. She.. she would never.” I stutter.
“Oh. But she would, and she has. I guess your friend wasn’t as loyal as you thought she was.”
Anger courses through my veins and I’m struggling to comprehend his words. That my best friend could rat me out to my abusive husband, and for what?
“Tell me the fucking truth, right now!” I fire out, heat blazing across my skin and my fingers begin to dig into the scratchy sheet on the bed. Ricky squeezes my thighs right where the burns are and I hiss a sharp breath in through gritted teeth, then he continues to spill the story of my best friend throwing me under the bus, for fucking money.
“So, yeah. That’s the story of how precious little Ellie, fucked over her best friend for good dick and a fuck ton of money. What a beautiful tale.” He singsongs, not giving a single fuck that I’m dying inside from betrayal that cuts deeper than any knife ever could.
I trusted her with everything I had.
“I hate you.” I mumble, keeping my head low.
“Hm, what was that?” He asks, tipping his head to the side like one would speak to a child in trouble.
“I said.” I start, rising as best I can to meet his gaze. “I hate you. I hate you with every fibre of my being, of every beat of my heart, of every drop of blood in my veins, I hate you and I can’t wait to watch you suffer. So go ahead, fuck me up, ruin me, destroy me, kill me. But you can bet your ass that I’ll be the one whoends you.” I seethe, and in that very moment I accept my fate.
Closing my eyes, I allow myself to sink into the green pools of Dean’s eyes as Ricky rips into me, searing my cervix and womb with the heated speculum until I know I’ll never be able to grow another life in there, leaving me empty and hollow.
It’s dark, darker than it’s ever been and I’m not sure when I’ll ever see the light of day again. I feel like these four walls are closing on me every time I take a breath, attempting to crush me under their weight. I’ve been thrown out of one prison and into another, and at every stop, pieces of me have been left behind.
I’m not really sure what happened after Ricky’s abuse, I think I blacked out from the pain and found myself in an underground bunker of sorts underneath the mill. There’s no sounds except my bated breaths. I can’t even hear the cries of the other women anymore, and for some reason my brain can’t decide if that’s a good thing or not. They made me feel less alone in this hell hole, but now I’m left with my own lingering thoughts that can be absolutely deafening.
A cracked plate sits in front of me on the floor, pieces of dry stale bread sit in the middle with the odd fly buzzing around it. The annoying insect is probably just as hungry as I am, but I can’t bring myself to eat it. Wracking my brain, I can’t even remember the last time I ate anything but if I’m going off the groans my stomach keeps creating, I’d say it was a while ago. I’mstarving, practically wasting away and I’m so tired, so very tired.
Resting my head against the brick wall, I manage to tuck my legs into my chest and wrap my arms around myself, wincing at the pain that radiates through my insides from the hot speculum. I rest my heavy eyelids, just for a moment.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, mama, and I thank whatever higher being there is, for bringing me to you.”
Dean’s forest green eyes burn right into the depths of my soul and I swear I can feel it deep in my bones, the way he looks at me with so much awe, takes my breath away every single time.
His large hands cover my own as he pulls me into his lap, the sprawling fields of wild flowers surround us like a colourful blanket, bees and butterflies flitting between flowerheads before venturing off on their travels. It’s beautiful, but not nearly as beautiful as the man who’s looking up at me right now. The way his golden skin shines in the sunlight, accentuating his strong brows and sharp jaw line that’s covered perfectly in dark hair.
Releasing my hands from his, I place them both on the sides of his face, feeling the coarse beard hair against my skin, sending tingles down my spine. His rough hands land softly on my bare thighs before making their way upwards, lifting the mint green sundress up as he goes and I can’t stop the sharp inhale of breath as he skates his hands over my tingling skin.
“I love the colour green.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” I ask, tipping my head to the side.
“Because you look good in it, everything about you is my favourite thing.” He says with that rich baritone that has me melting in his arms.
“You’re such a flirt, Mr Sinclair.”
“Only for you. Always for you.”
Dean’s plump lips turn up into a sinful smirk and I bring his face to mine to plant a soft kiss onto his mouth. It only stays gentle for a moment before he pushes his tongue between my lips, caressing my own with his and just through the touch alone, I can feel every ounce of love he has for me. How it slips into my bloodstream, filling me with euphoria.
I moan against his mouth and a deep groan vibrates through his chest as I grind against him, feeling him harden underneath me, his hands gripping onto my thighs. Sure enough he’ll leave bruises behind but they’re exactly the bruises I want from him, the ones where he’s grabbed me so tightly from pleasure, the ones where he can’t get enough of me.
The kiss becomes almost animalistic and I break away to take a breath, my chest heaving as Dean begins to leave kisses down the expanse of my neck.
