While the earlier rhythm made me feel content, this one scratches a darker side inside me.

That side craves the pain Aiden offers.

That side feeds off Aiden’s depravity.

That side scares me.

Wanting him in this unhinged way terrifies the shit out of me.

“Aiden…” I try to coax him. “Slow down.”

His body covers mine from behind. “You don’t get to put a limit on when and how much I get to touch you, then ask me to slow down. You’re well and truly fucked, sweetheart.”

He pulls at my nipple and I’m a goner. It’s like I can’t control my body when he touches me.

I barely come down from the orgasm, panting, and clawing at the sheets for dear life.

Aiden doesn’t stop.

His merciless pace goes on and on and on.

I’m so sensitive and spent. My nerves endings shiver and beg for this to end.

But if I tell him that, he’ll just do the opposite.

I have one option now.

Using all the strength I have left, I push back, wiggling my arse against his thighs and balls.

If he doesn’t finish any time soon, he’ll go at this all night long.

He hits a sensitive spot inside me. I moan, but I don’t stop wiggling against him.

“What do you think you’re doing, sweetheart? Hmm?” He growls.

“C-come inside me,” I whimper, trying to keep up with his pace. “I want you to come inside me, Aiden.”

“Fuck.” A grunt spills from his lips as warmth coats my walls.

I collapse on my front as he pulls out of me. Hot liquid trickles down my thighs, but I couldn’t care less right now.

I’m so exhausted and I could sleep for eternity.

Aiden flips me around and I let him, a soft mumble spilling from my lips.

He kneels at the foot of the bed as I lay stark naked in front of him, my eyes starting to flutter closed.

He pulls my legs apart, hands clutching both my thighs as he slowly watches me with darkened eyes. He sniffs the air as if he wants to engrave our scent into memory.

“Did you honestly think you could manipulate me, sweetheart?”

My eyes shoot open.

“Do you think it’s over because I came?”

“I-I’m sensitive.”

His devilish smirk greets me. “You should’ve thought of that before putting a limit on when I get to touch you.”

“It’s too much.” But is it too much if my entire body is tingling for more?

Is it too much if I’m impatiently waiting for his next move?

“You know what’s too much, sweetheart? Too much is craving you and not being able to touch you because you put a limit on it.”

“Now.” He tilts his head to the side. “You’ll come for me one more time like a good girl.”

And then he’s feasting on me and I’m screaming his name.

19

Elsa

Past,

I’m humming as I trot down the path in the middle of the garden.

Ma said she’ll read me a story today. She stopped reading me stories since the one who shall not be named disappeared.

A red rose is tucked carefully between my small fingers. My brows scrunch as I try to keep the rose pretty.

It’s for Ma because she likes red.

Our house isn’t in the city. Daddy has to drive for sooo long to arrive where he works. When I asked him why do we live where there aren’t other people, he said he and Ma don’t like to be bothered.

He’s like the prince who took the princess to his faraway castle and is living happily ever after with her.

Or maybe it’s not happily ever after.

When does forever end in them fairy tales?

Near the back garden, sounds of fighting rise in the air.

No. Not fighting.

I stop in my tracks, my heart beating loud and fast. My clutch tightens around the rose.

Them monsters are here again.

I hide behind the plum tree and hug the rose close to my chest.

My eyes screw shut, so hard, they hurt.

Them monsters won’t take me.

Not anymore.

No other sound comes. I slowly open my eyes and search around me.

Movement catches at the top floor of our house.

Ma stands at the window of her room, staring at the distance and putting red lipstick on.

My mouth parts to call her name, but I close it again. Them monsters will find me before she does.

They always do.

I breathe as quietly as possible while hiding behind the tree. There are wires in the distance, surrounding the entire garden.

Daddy’s friends who wear black and don’t talk to us put those so no animals or people come inside.

But even the wires can’t stop them monsters.

“I told you to back off.”

My spine stiffens at the voice coming from around the corner.

Daddy?

With snail movements, I place a hand on the stone and peek. Daddy sits at the garden table, his back facing me.

He’s wearing his black suit. His chestnut hair is short at his nape but is long at the top.

The view of his back alone makes him appear far like I can’t reach him anymore.

Maybe them monsters come after Daddy, too.

Uncle Reginald sits opposite Daddy and facing me. He has scrawny looks and bulging blue eyes that used to scare me when I was younger.

But not anymore.

Monsters escape when Uncle Reg is here.

He’s like a superhero.

Ma and Dad don’t like it when I speak like him and say ‘them’ instead of ‘the’. They say that’s not how educated people speak, but I like saying ‘them’. I just have to not say it in front of Ma and Dad.

Now, Uncle Reg appears angry like Daddy when I don’t stay in my room at night.

“It’s your last chance, Steel.” Uncle Reg spits on the ground — eww, gross. “If you don’t give me what I want, I’ll find someone who will.”

Daddy stands to his full height and my heart shrinks. Daddy is scary when he speaks with so much calm. “You think a cockroach like you can cross me?”

Uncle Reg stands, too. “Try me, boss, and you’ll see what a cockroach is capable of.”

“Get off my property,” Daddy grinds out. “Now.”

I flinch at the tone, my nails digging into the rose.

Uncle Reg smiles and comes in my direction. I hide back against the tree, holding the rose close to my chest.

I’m so going to give Uncle Reg a scare.

“What do we have here?” Uncle Reg speaks from in front of the tree. “I can see your hair, princess.”

Uh-Oh.

I step out, pouting. “Not fair, Uncle Reg. I was about to scare you!”

He places a hand at his heart. “Oh, I’m terrified, princess.”

“It’s okay, you can stop being scared now.”

“Thank you, my lady.” He straightens and points at the rose. “Where are you taking that?”

I grin, showing him my missing tooth. “To Ma! She said she’ll read me a story today.”

He lowers himself so he’s crouching. “Your ma has been good, yeah?”

“Yeah! She’s putting red lipstick.”

Uncle Reg’s expression falls.