flipped over, pinning Stella beneath him,

her waist as his breat

t of her nightmare b

aying ceiling overhead. It wasn't until her legs

d. Her jaw tightened and she bit down on

didn't let go, gripping

y, brushed against her e

ndle it before I

r things got too rough. But hearing those words now only made

me. Don't

skin to skin. The friction between them only made things worse. Charles'

you don't want

a could see was the desire burni

nd after that, unless she was on her period or right after g

r, yet he couldn't ge

just mad at her-never t

topped touching her completely. Once, after she'd showered

you dis

re was intense. Since he thought she was disgusting,

was dead. Why should she let this fa

ain, I'll call the cops and

y above, no more fighting, even though

nded her, mad

past times, she gave

gross. You touch me, I

er now was unfami

les

e room evaporated like s

of desire

, tossed the blanket at her, a

elessly on the nights

e screen again and again, stabbi

't look at

d walked out witho

still waiti

shower, the bed was empty. Hi

meone to go get both Stella and Sophie-but then he no

hit

ith Olivia at the hospi

and drove straigh

livia came running, clinging to his leg

ht you didn't w

t down and scooped her up,

ss. How could Dad

sick too... and if you stayed with Sophie, I wasn'

ound his neck like she

of guilt and worry."Charles, it's my fa

Isabelle had clearly raised Oliv

rles feel even mor

abroad alone. You don't need to apologize. Are yo

enly caught a glimpse of a faint bite m

y quickly, b

lla just now-so caught up h

d down the jealousy in her eyes. When she loo

ivia down for now. Don

but her foot slipped, and she

urst out

ug her too. Daddy kissed me earlier, now

ly at Charles, her e

ess, showing just enough pale skin t

ook his arm away, keeping Olivia in

let's see what you'v

and started c

m, slowly clenched her

the shower until her skin was red, but no matter how hard she t

athroom floor, hugging

d bandage on her head. Looking in the mirror, her pale face and the ug

hat really happened w

everything owed t

had to make Charles p

give up like some

those terrifying memories, but the faces of the

ssages started pouring in-she hadn't e

deadline passed three days ago! You kn

ed Stella

pted a commission. If she didn't deliver, she

it came to money, Stella never wanted to

composing part-time online and e

k, had never met her in person-just

nee

even know wh

g together for so lon

. I've sent you the address, go

at, she

d the address

ill V

? What ar

shening up briefly, she gra

e'd barely walked a few steps in

ospital. Come on in and rest. I'm just grabbing some clothes for him-he

tely forgot how Stella had nearly stran

le landmines in every sentence-each one full of