Chapter Thirteen DRAVEN I flipped the switch to shade all the downstairs windows and sit down to eat while getting to know my new phone . It seems to be a newer model and nothing I would have ever bought for myself with my own money . As promised , it came programmed with one phone number . Mister Mayors . I laugh before changing the name to Domonic and I have just put it down when it chimes -Domonic What are you doing down there ? Calling one of those numbers you threw away ? -Me Why arent you asleep ? -Domonic You know why . -Me I do . -Domonic Cancel your date tomorrow . -Me I cant . -Domonic Why not ? -Me I dont have Pauls number . -Domonic Lol . Thats real cute . -Me Maybe if you told me why 1/6 Chapter Thirteen you care so much . -Domonic I dont care . I just dont want him getting attached to someone that he cant have . -Me You dont care … You tell me to cancel with someone because you dont care . Doesnt make much sense to me . And tell me what makes you think he cant have me ? -Domonic Its not what I think . Its what I KNOW . -Me If thats all , then the best I can do is leave the shades open TOMORROW night so you can watch us . Sweet Dreams ! I stay downstairs until three thirty in the morning , hoping that Domonic has gone to sleep . When I finally make it upstairs , I start the shower and flip the shade switch open . Nothing but darkened windows await me across the yard . With a sigh , I shrug my shoulders and begin to undress . Disappearing inside the bathroom in just my underwear . Freezing for a moment in front of the mirror , I note my bruises are still visible . Then with a sigh I step under the scalding water of the shower . All the lights are out in my bedroom , and I know if Domonic is watching , all he can see at the moment , is the haloing glow of the bathroom light beneath the door . When I finish , I slip on the negligee which I am happy to see fits like a damned glove then I exit the bathroom , flipping the shade switch closed after a long moment staring out the window . Then , I head straight for my bed . I decide to save my little show for when my bruises are all gone . What kind of person , hosts a strip show covered in black and blue ? A sicko , thats who . I hadnt seen any activity across the yard anyway . With any luck , he is asleep . Two minutes later my phone chimes again . -Domonic 2/6 Chapter Thirteen Why did you close the shades ? -Me Did you get me this phone just so that could harrass me ? Why arent you asleep ? -Domonic Ive been watching for you . I thought you were gonna give me a show . The thing fits you perfectly btw . -Me How did you see me without my lights on ? -Domonic I see better in the dark . Open the shades . I want to watch you . -Me Watch me ? Watch me do what ? LOL -Domonic Whatever I ask you to do . Starting with you opening the shades . Go to sleep . 3/6 Chapter Thirteen Smiling to myself , I close my eyes . It is only my second day here and already I am crushing on someone . If it can even be called that . Somehow , I know that it is more . The draw , the pull , the ache . All of it bangs out a warning that this man could ruin my heart completely . What am I going to do with myself ? Tossing and turning for the next half hour , I picture Domonic in his bed , staring at my windows . My mind strolls back to the massage he gave me and the sound of his voice when he told me to Get up here . God , I had never wanted anything so bad in my life . Each time he touched me my body zinged with energy . When he asked me how my neck was doing , I should have lied . I should have said it was killing me so that he would put his hands on me again . But , of course , Id been afraid . Scared that , like all the other men in my life , he only wanted one thing . And he probably does . I am terrified that if I give myself to him , that he will abandon me immediately afterward , or that I will become less important to him . And youre important to him now ? Ha . Thats a laugh . Ive never been into controlling men before , but somehow , he is different . I like his little bouts of jealousy . For me , they are a serious turn on . The fact that he refuses to admit that he likes me , is only making this whole thing more fun . I wonder if he realizes Paul is coming over here for dinner . Itll be fun to see what happens when he finds out . Playing out a few little scenarios in my head , I finally fall asleep . DREAM SEQUENCE * I felt , rather than heard him come into my room . Remembering that my mom was right next door wasnt any comfort . Not anymore . She was sick , and all that meant now , was that if I didnt do what I was told , she would get a lot sicker . I kept my eyes clamped shut , cursing myself for not thinking he might come in here after mom got back from the hospital . I thought for sure I was safe until her next treatment was set to begin . I was wrong . I felt him peel back the covers ever so slowly and the glide of his hand over my bare legs as he unbuckled his pants . I was trembling inside , knowing all I really had to do to stop this was reach under my mattress for the knife I had stashed there . I know youre awake princess , but maybe its better if you keep pretending , youre not . I felt his tongue slide over my neck , but I kept my eyes clamped shut , not wanting to see the desire in his disgusting gaze . His heavy breathing coupled with the sound of his pants dropping is what had me turn around . Until that night , all he ever really did was touch me . Sure , he had unbuckled his pants before , but he hadnt ever taken them off ! What are you doing ? I hissed . He laughed , his ugly brown eyes following his hand as he forced it up under my shirt . Tonight , Im going to teach you some of what it means to become a woman . My eyes fell to his penis , noticing for the first time not only had he dropped his pants , but his underwear as well . N no ! I whimpered , scrambling upward to sit up against the wall . 4/6 14.01 Wed , Nov 13 Chapter Thirteen Shut your mouth or your mother will hear you ! Do you really want to upset her ? After everything shes been through ? I didnt want to be the one who caused her broken heart . Didnt want to be the reason her perfect husband suddenly wasnt so perfect anymore . If she knew what was going on , it might break her . So , like any loving daughter would do , I hid it from her instead . I shook my head no . Well then do as I say and just relax . All Im asking for is a kiss . ** END OF DREAM I wake up sobbing . Every now and then , not very often , but at least once every couple of weeks I dream about him . My stepfather . I shouldve known this was coming . Shouldve gone out to buy some chamomile tea or lavender or magnolia . Even a jar of melatonin gummies from the store might have been helpful . But I had hoped that being so far away from his evil for the first time might be remedy enough . Apparently , I was wrong . Drying my tears , I glance at the clock on the nightstand . Eight forty five in the morning . More than four hours of sleep is definite progress . Maybe after Ive been here a couple of weeks , I might even get six . Grabbing the bathrobe I bought yesterday I shrug my arms into it and head toward the kitchen to make some coffee . Knock , knock , knock . As I stumble down the stairs toward the door , I realize , it is practically nine a.m. Great ! Domonic probably wants to do breakfast and my face probably looks like a battered tomato from all the crying Ive been doing . What ? I snap ripping open the front door and trying to hide my face behind my hair as best I can . He doesnt wait for me to invite him in , just pushes past me and shuts the door . His eyes scan the living room first , then the kitchen , them the stairs before settling on me . What happened ? He asks , his sultry gray gaze falling over me . I lift my chin , shaking back the sob he urges forth with just the concern in his eyes . Nothing happened . Bad dream . I get them sometimes . I turn away from him and head toward the pantry to grab some coffee beans for the grinder . What do you want ? I didnt even hear him come up behind me . One minute I am reaching for the beans and the next minute I am in his arms . They close around me from behind like a warm blanket , gathering me close with an unspoken promise of cover . Burying his face in my hair , his nose tickles my ear . You were crying , he whispers . 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