I laid back and closed my eyes.
That"s when the nightmare started.
20.
"KATYRINA," Preston said, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my shoulders. He pulled me back against him and smacked a loud, wet, kiss against my cheek. "I"ve missed you, baby."
I giggled. "Preston, it"s been, like, two hours since you saw me."
"It feels like forever," his lips ventured down my neck and I relaxed against him.
"I thought you wanted help with your homework?" I asked.
He chuckled. "No, I just wanted to see you. When will your mom be home?"
I snorted. "Late, like always."
He released me and turned me around to face him. "Your room?"
I took his hand and led him up the ma.s.sive marble staircase. It felt cold against my sock covered feet, but the heat from holding Preston"s hand, warmed me right up.
My bedroom door was open and I guided him inside. He closed the door and did something he hadn"t done before. He locked it.
Instantly, I went on high alert.
"Preston," I said, warningly.
"It"s okay, baby," he said with a c.o.c.ky grin, running his fingers through his blonde hair. "I just don"t want the maid coming in. You know how she"s always snooping around."
I swallowed. "She"s not here today, Preston, you know that. Please, unlock the door."
"Katyrina," he said, an edge to his voice. "We"ve been together for almost four years, you"ve gotta give it up sometime."
"I"m not ready," I said through my teeth.
He came towards me and I fell against my huge, overly frilly, bed.
"Preston, you"re scaring me," I said, as he stalked towards me with a grin like the cat that ate the canary.
He took my face between his large hands and pressed his mouth forcefully to mine. When he pulled away, I was breathless, and not in a good way.
"Stop Preston, please stop," I begged.
"Four years and not once have we had s.e.x," he looked at me angrily. "A man has his needs, Katyrina, and it"s time you take care of mine."
"Have you been drinking?" I asked, searching for some answer to his behavior.
"Maybe," he shrugged.
"I think you need to leave," I said, my voice coming out stronger than I felt.
He grabbed my wrists tightly in his hands, hard enough to bruise and pushed me back until I lay flat on the bed.
"I"m not leaving until I get what I came for," spit flew from his mouth.
My chest clenched and I couldn"t breathe. He was heavy on top of me and I wiggled, trying to dislodge him.
He chuckled and pressed his lips against my ear. "I"m not going anywhere, Katyrina, so stop trying to kick me."
"Get off of me!" I screamed.
"Scream all you want," he slurred. "No one can hear you."
"Preston, don"t do this," I pleaded.
"I wouldn"t have to," he said, pulling his shirt over his head, "if you"d just give it up. But you won"t, because you think you"re some kind of saint. I wanna see how saintly you are," he pushed my dress up my thighs and fingered my panties.
"Preston! Stop!" I squirmed against his touch. I wanted to get away from him, but he was too heavy and too strong. I was trapped and my panic was working against me, by draining my energy.
"This would be a whole lot easier if you"d cooperate," he kissed down the length of my neck, into the curve of my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "You"re always walking around in these hot little dresses, trying to tempt me."
"I"m not trying to tempt you! Preston! Stop!" I screamed and screamed and screamed. But it was useless.
No one would hear me, because no one was here.
This had to be the one-day that my mother didn"t have someone at the house, doing something, leaving me helpless.
I couldn"t even get my phone; it was downstairs on the kitchen counter.
Preston pushed my dress up further, pulling it over my head, but careful to keep me pinned to the bed.
I clawed at his naked back, breaking the skin, and he winced in pain.
"You want it rough, babe? I"ll give it to you rough," he growled.
"I want you to stop!" I sobbed. The tears coursed down my face, onto my bed, but Preston didn"t notice.
"No, you don"t, baby. You want this, I know you do," he kissed my belly b.u.t.ton.
I gripped his hair and pulled.
"Stop! I said stop!" I shouted.
"What did you think we were coming up to your room for? Huh, Katyrina?" He asked, his lips swollen and his eyes gla.s.sy.
"I don"t know! To make-out like we always do!" I cried.
He licked his lips. "Not today, Katyrina. Today, I"m going to make you mine. You"ll never be anyone else"s, Katyrina, do you hear me? You will be mine." He slipped my panties off and tossed them onto the floor.
I couldn"t stop sobbing.
"Preston! Stop! Please! Stop!" I wept uncontrollably.
He unbuckled his belt and let his jeans drop, but not before grabbing a condom.
"Preston!" I screamed, crawling back.
He put his hand down on my stomach, pressing hard and taking the breath from me.
"b.i.t.c.h! You"re not going anywhere!" he growled, spittle flying.
He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me back to him.
In one swift move, he was inside me. I screamed at the pain and pulled his hair again.
"Oh baby, you feel so good," he moaned.
He started to move inside me and panic coursed through me.
Preston was raping me.
Oh, G.o.d.
I bit his shoulder, I kicked, I screamed, I begged, I pleaded...
But nothing worked.
Spent, he rolled off of me and lay there, breathing heavily. "Baby, that was amazing."
"I want you to leave," I cried, suddenly feeling very small.
"What?" he sat up.
My lower lip trembled and I punched his shoulder. "Get out!"
His brow furrowed in puzzlement. "Katyrina-"
"Get out! Get away from me! I never want to see you again!" I screamed for so long, I didn"t even know when he"d gotten dressed and left.
I screamed and cried some more, not moving from my bed. I felt so violated.
Shaking, I tiptoed into my bathroom and started a shower. I scrubbed my body until every inch of my skin was pink and raw.
Preston had taken something from me, more than just my virginity; he had taken my faith in humanity.
"Katy! Katy! Wake up!" someone shook me.
"Get off of me! Don"t touch me!" I screamed.
The hands left but I kept screaming.
"Katy? What"s wrong? Tell me, please!" the voice pleaded.
Sobbing, I opened my eyes. Jared and Karlie"s brown eyes stared back at me.
"Oh, G.o.d," I scooted back away from them. "I"m so sorry!"
I buried my face in my hands and sobbed. "Katy, what" going on?" Jared asked, softly.
I shook my head, unable to talk.
I heard Jared say something to Karlie and then Jared and I were alone.
Jared sat down on the edge of the bed, careful to keep distance between us.
"Katy, what"s wrong? You can tell me," he said softly.
I continued to cry, too emotional to speak.
I felt the bed rise as he stood and for a moment I panicked at the thought of him leaving. But a second later, he was back, handing me a tissue.
"Please, Katy, you have to open up to me, sometime. Let me in," he pleaded.
"I- I- can"t," I sobbed.
"You can, Katy. You"re stronger than you think. Let me in, you can do it, let me see all of you."
I wiped at my face with the tissue.
"How about we start with, why were you screaming? It scared the c.r.a.p out of me, Katy. I thought you were hurt."
"Nightmare," I wiped my face.
"How often do you have these nightmares?" he asked, softly.
My lip trembled. "Every night."
"Are they... nightmares or are you reliving something?" His dark eyes were serious and full of understanding.
Somehow, I knew if I confessed everything to Jared he"d understand, but I still feared he"d never look at me the same.