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“Luke, I love you.”
He gasped, but didn’t say anything as his eyes filled with tears, and I continued speaking. “Please don’t doubt my words. I know you have a hard time accepting when I tell you how beautiful you are, but please believe this, believe in my love for you. Because I do. I love you more than anything or anyone in my life.”
Luke opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He swallowed a few times before meeting my eyes and saying, “I love you, too. I have for a while, but I didn’t think—didn’t think you felt the same way.”
“Well, I do, and you better believe it.”
“I believe you,” Luke whispered as he hugged me tightly, and I squeezed him just as tightly, wishing I’d never have to let go. It was a few minutes before Luke leaned back to look at me with his nose scrunched up in a totally adorable way. “Is something burning?”
“Oh shit!” I ran to the stove and turned it off, but it was too late. The veggies were all blackened on one side. Rubbing my face, I pulled the pan off the stove, scraping the burnt vegetables into the trash and throwing the pan in the sink.
“Sorry,” I said sheepishly as Luke walked over to the counter.
With twinkling eyes, Luke nudged me away from the stove, a hand on his hip. “You should stick to making breakfast, don’t you think?”
“I guess. I mean, you’re such a late riser. There’s no way you’d be up in time to distract me from making breakfast,” I fired back with a grin.
“Oh, so it’s my fault then, is it?”
I rubbed my jaw as if contemplating my answer before nodding. “Oh, yes. Definitely. That smile on your face makes me forget pretty much everything.”
I loved the way he blushed, even as he shook his head, making all the hair fall back into his eyes. With a huff, he pulled a hair tie off his wrist before wringing his hair into a ponytail. And because I was so smitten with the guy, even watching him fight off his errant hair fascinated me. God, I was such a sap.
“Now, shoo,” Luke said, flapping his arm in a ‘go away’ gesture. The blush was still high on his cheeks, and I smiled as I pressed a kiss to his cheek before leaving him to cook in peace.
21
Luke
Hesnappedthebeltagain, and pain shot through my back as it sliced into my skin.
I tried to tell him to stop, that I'd do whatever he wanted me to, but the gag in my mouth stopped me from doing anything but whimpering in pain as blood dripped down my sides.
"You're such a slut, aren't you? You love that pain," he hissed before hitting me with the whip again, closer to my shoulder blades this time. My eyes snapped shut of their own accord as tears slipped through. A part of me knew this was a nightmare, but I couldn't get out. I was trapped, just like I'd been a year ago.
"I've seen your scars, slut. I know you love the pain. You yearn for it. Well, here it is."
He dropped the belt, and my eyes opened as dread filled my chest. I knew what was coming next. I shook my head and tried to get away, but my wrists and ankles were cuffed to the bed, and I couldn't get away. I never could.
"Please…" I tried to say again, but all that came out was a pitiful sob.
He dropped his pants and without any prep forced himself into me as the blood pooled on my back. I forced myself to close my eyes and tried to wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
When I opened my eyes, I was still in that dreaded room, and he was pulling his pants up. "Lie there, Lukey boy, and think about what you are. Here's a hint: Nothing but a slut.Myslut."
And he was gone. I knew he wouldn't be back until a few hours later, until my wounds were almost clogged. And then he'd take pleasure in treating them as if hecaredfor me, all the while making it hurt even more.
I sobbed as the pain overwhelmed me, shuddering as I heard his voice again, calling from somewhere in the dark.
"Luke…"
"Luke!"
"Lu, wake up!"
My eyes snapped open as I realized that it was Scott's voice calling me, nothis.My heart was hammering in my chest as I sat up.
"Shh, it was a nightmare. You're okay. You're safe," Scott murmured beside me.
