He looms over me, his breath ragged. His eyes are wild, and his hands are clenched into fists, ready to strike again.
“You fucking whore,” he snarls. “How long has this been going on? How many times have you fucked him behind my back?”
My vision blurs as I struggle to focus.
All I see are the letters scattered across our bedroom floor, the words of love and longing between Reed and me now twisted into weapons of betrayal.
“Brian, please,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “It’s not what you thi?—”
“Bullshit!” he roars, cutting me off. He grabs my shoulders, his fingers digging into my flesh. “You think I’m stupid? You think I can’t see how you look at him? You’ve been fucking him for months, haven’t you? Admit it!”
He shakes me violently as my teeth click together.
I feel panic rising in my chest, my fight-or-flight response screaming at me to do something.
“Brian, please!” I yell, pushing weakly at his chest.
He doesn’t listen to my pleas, and this time I know he isn’t holding back anymore; he has murder in his eyes.
With a swift flick of his wrist, he backhands me across the face, and I cry out in pain.
The room spins, and my knees buckle as I struggle to stand.
Before hitting the ground, he catches me, his grip rough and demanding.
He pulls me against him, his face inches from mine. “You’re mine, Layla,” he whispers. “You’re my fucking fiancé, and you’ll never leave me. Do you understand?”
I nod weakly, tears streaming down my face as they mix with the blood from wherever I’m bleeding.
He presses his weight against me, and I feel the hardness of his erection against my hip.
“Brian, please,”I think to myself, but the words don’t come out.
With a sob, I close my eyes, surrendering to the inevitable. His hands roam over my body, and I know this is my punishment for betraying him.
His hands keep roaming, and a wave of nausea washes over me. His touch is rough and brutal, a stark contrast to the tender caresses I’ve shared with Reed. His breath is hot and heavy against my ear as he mutters obscenities and threats, his voice a low, menacing growl.
“This pretty cunt is mine, and I’ll show you how much I fucking love you, Layla.”
He shoves me roughly against the wall, his body pinning mine and trapping me.
My heart races in my chest, and I feel the cold sweat of fear slide down my back.
I turn my head to the side, trying to avoid his lips, but he grabs me by the hair, forcing me to look at him.
“Look at me, you fucking bitch,” he snarls, his eyes wild with rage. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done. You’re going to pay for every fucking time you spread your legs for that freak.”
With a cruel laugh, he grabs the hem of my dress and slowly pulls it up, his knuckles grazing my thighs.
I whimper and try to squirm away, but he holds me fast, his grip bruising. He pushes my panties aside and shoves his fingers inside me.
Tears stream down my face as he suddenly invades me. I push against his shoulder, but he pushes me harder against the wall, grunting as he forces his fingers inside me.
He finally pulls away, licking his fingers clean of me, his eyes cold and distant as he watches me. “Remember this, Layla,” he says, his voice a low, dangerous purr. “Remember what happens when you try to leave me. You’re mine, and I’ll never let you go. I’ll kill us both if I have to.”
I slide down the wall, tears flowing freely as my body trembles from sobs.
He laughs, grabs his keys, walks to the front door, then slams it shut.
