It’s as if he knows I need him right now.
His face flashes before my eyes, an avalanche of beautiful memories flooding my system.
I can’t take this anymore. Not one more second of humiliation, degradation, and fear. No amount of money is worth this. It was when I hadn’t known anything better.
It was worth it before Cody showed me what happiness and real, unconditional love feels like.
Before him, only my mother offered me her attention without expectation. Everyone else either wanted something in return or wanted me to act a certain way. My so-called friends stood beside me because they looked up to me, were scared of me, or could use me for money or popularity.
Everyone had an agenda.
Everyone but my mother and Cody.
“Stop punishing yourself. You’ve grown. You learned. You’re a better person than you were back then. I know you weren’t cruel for the sake of being cruel, baby. Why can’t you see that? It was a defense mechanism against your own hurt. You think your feelings, past, and everything you endured doesn’t carry any weight? That none of it left a mark? You’re not a bad person. You’re aware of the wrongs. You think you’re inflicting justifiable punishment on yourself, but you’re taking it too far. Enough, baby. Time to take a step forward.”
I deserve to be happy.
I’m not out of the woods, there’s still so much that needs fixing, but I’m willing to stop punishing myself. Stop believing I’m not worth a chance.
I am. I can do better. I can earn his family’s forgiveness and make Cody happy. I know I can.
My body immediately goes into combat mode, but I stop before pushing Archibald away with everything I have. If I make a scene, I won’t have time to get away before my father follows.
I probably won’t even reach my car.
A questionable plan forms within seconds. Instead of fighting Archibald off, I force myself to relax as I lean into his gentle touch.
X marks the spot.
He finds the prize, his finger drawing from the fabric-covered entrance up to my mound. My entire body stiffens. The thin fabric of my panties is all that separates his skin from mine.
He drags his finger down again as if looking for wetness that’s not there. Spurring him on, I part my lips, letting out an almost inaudible gasp.
“Shh, sweetheart. We don’t want to get caught, do we?”
“I can’t,” I murmur, doing my best not to sound like I’m about to hurl. “I can’t keep quiet when you do this.”
“This?” He rolls my clit under his finger, then pinches hard, earning a tiny artificial moan. “You’re spectacular, sweetheart.”
“Could we—” I pause purposefully, rolling my eyes back like I love what he’s doing. “Could we please go somewhere else? Somewhere I won’t have to be quiet?”
A low grunt tears from his chest. “I’m not sure your father would be happy if he saw us leave together.”
Inching even closer, I line his ear with my lips. “He doesn’t have to know. I can tell him I don’t feel well, and meet you in the parking lot in fifteen...” Another fake needy gasp. “No, not that long... ten minutes. I have a car here, we can go back to my place. I live alone.”
“Not your place. I have a spot in town.” He pulls his hand away.
I almost cry in relief, but catch myself in time, making a soft, disappointed sound. It does the trick. The corner of his mouth lifts, his eyes darker than coal.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he coos, slopping a kiss on my temple. “Daddy’s going to take care of you very soon.”
My stomach twists, but I keep my composure intact as he hands me a black business card. There’s nothing on it apart from an address. No name, no logo, just the address. Telling me Archibald takes a lot of women there.
“Judging by how he treated you last time you left before he allowed it, I think it’s safer if I make an excuse on your behalf,” he says, driving his hand down my thigh to stop on my knee. “Meet me there in an hour.” He taps the card.
For the first time since I met the man, I feel a tiny bit of gratitude toward him. He just bought me time to pack my things. I’m sure my father will head for my doorstep the moment Archibald leaves this party.
That’s what I want. I want him to come so I can tell him it’s over. I won’t follow his orders any longer but this extra time allows me to plan a little better.
